What is difference between CSV and flat file?

Question

The difference between a flat file and a CSV file is that a CSV file uses a delimiter to separate data fields (in most instances this is a comma, although enclosing characters can be used, such as double quotes) and delimited files only use a delimiter to structure data.

Why is CSV a flat file?

One of the most prominent flat file examples is a comma-separated values (CSV) file. A CSV file is one in which table data is gathered in lines of American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) text with the value from each table cell separated by a comma and each row represented by a new line.

Is Excel CSV a flat file?

Excel files are binary files. Csv files are also known as flat files. The values in the excel can perform calculations and can access macros, formulas etc. The values in the csv file do not have a formatting, macros, formulas etc.

What is a flat file used for?

Flat files can be used to import or export data from applications that have no other means of interaction. For example, you might want to share information between JD Edwards EnterpriseOne and another system.

What is CSV file used for?

A CSV is a comma-separated values file, which allows data to be saved in a tabular format. CSVs look like a garden-variety spreadsheet but with a . csv extension. CSV files can be used with most any spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel or Google Spreadsheets.

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