How do I format my CSV for conversion?

Your CSV should have a header row with column names, followed by data rows. Use commas to separate values. If a value contains commas or quotes, wrap it in double quotes. For quotes within a value, use two double quotes (e.g., "He said ""Hello""").

Can this tool handle quoted fields?

Yes! Our converter properly handles quoted fields containing commas, such as "New York, NY". It also handles escaped quotes within quoted fields using the standard CSV convention of double quotes ("").

What JSON format does this tool produce?

The tool produces a JSON array of objects. Each CSV row (except the header) becomes an object, with header names as keys. The output is pretty-printed with 2-space indentation for readability. All values are output as strings.

Is this CSV to JSON converter free?

Yes, our CSV to JSON converter is completely free with no signup required. All conversion happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to our servers, ensuring your data remains private and secure.

Can I convert Excel files to JSON?

This tool works with CSV text data. To convert Excel files, first export your spreadsheet as CSV from Excel (File > Save As > CSV), then paste the CSV content into our converter. The resulting JSON will have the same structure.

CSV to JSON Converter | Free Online CSV to JSON Tool

Q: What is CSV to JSON conversion?

CSV to JSON conversion transforms tabular data (rows and columns) into a structured JSON format. Each row becomes a JSON object, with column headers as property names and cell values as property values. The result is an array of objects that's easy to use in web applications and APIs.

What is CSV to JSON Conversion?

CSV to JSON conversion transforms comma-separated values (tabular data) into JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format. The first row of your CSV becomes the property names (keys), and each subsequent row becomes a JSON object in an array. This format is ideal for web applications, APIs, databases, and modern data processing workflows.

Why Use Our CSV to JSON Converter?

Handles Quoted Fields: Properly parses values with commas inside quotes like "New York, NY"
Escaped Quotes Support: Handles double quotes within values using the standard "" convention
Pretty-Printed Output: JSON is formatted with indentation for easy reading
Download as File: Save your JSON directly as a .json file
100% Private: All conversion happens in your browser - no data sent to servers

CSV Format Guidelines

Header Row: The first row must contain column names. These become the property names in your JSON objects.

Data Rows: Each subsequent row represents one object in the JSON array. Empty rows are automatically skipped.

Comma Separation: Values are separated by commas. Spaces around commas are trimmed automatically.

Quoted Values: Wrap values in double quotes if they contain commas, quotes, or newlines.

Escaping Quotes: Use two double quotes ("") to represent a literal quote inside a quoted field.

Example Conversion

CSV Input:

id,name,city
1,Alice,"New York"
2,Bob,"Los Angeles"
3,"Charlie, Jr.",Chicago

JSON Output:

[ { "id": "1", "name": "Alice", "city": "New York" }, { "id": "2", "name": "Bob", "city": "Los Angeles" }, { "id": "3", "name": "Charlie, Jr.", "city": "Chicago" } ]

Common Use Cases

API Development: Convert spreadsheet data to JSON for REST API endpoints or mock data.

Database Import: Prepare CSV data for NoSQL databases like MongoDB that use JSON documents.

Web Applications: Transform CSV exports into JSON for JavaScript applications and frameworks.

Data Migration: Convert legacy CSV data to JSON format for modern systems.

Testing: Generate JSON test fixtures from CSV data for automated testing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are all my values strings in the JSON?

CSV is a text format with no type information. Our converter outputs all values as strings to preserve data accurately. If you need numbers or booleans, you can parse them in your application code.

What if my CSV has inconsistent columns?

The converter uses the first row as headers. If a data row has fewer values than headers, missing values will be empty strings. Extra values may be ignored. For best results, ensure consistent column counts.

Can I convert JSON back to CSV?

This tool converts CSV to JSON only. For JSON to CSV conversion, look for a dedicated JSON to CSV converter tool.

Is there a file size limit?

Since processing happens in your browser, limits depend on your device's memory. For very large files (10MB+), consider using command-line tools or splitting the data.