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CSV to JSON Converter

Convert CSV data to JSON with header detection, custom delimiter support, and automatic type inference.

In short: A CSV to JSON converter turns spreadsheet-style rows and columns into a JSON array of objects, using the header row as keys — the format modern APIs and JavaScript apps expect. RealJSON's converter does this in your browser with header detection, custom delimiters, and automatic type inference for numbers and booleans.

CSV to JSON Converter — Turn Spreadsheet Data into JSON

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is the most common format for exporting data from Excel, Google Sheets, databases, and analytics platforms. JSON is what modern APIs and JavaScript applications consume. RealJSON's free CSV to JSON converter bridges that gap instantly — no server, no installation.

How It Works

Paste CSV text or upload a .csv file. The converter:

  1. Detects the header row and uses the column names as JSON keys
  2. Parses each subsequent row into a JSON object
  3. Outputs a JSON array of objects — ready to copy into code or an API

Flexible Conversion Options

Custom Delimiters

Not all CSVs use commas. The converter supports tab-separated (TSV), semicolon-separated, and pipe-separated formats — common exports from European locale Excel files and database tools.

Header Row Detection

Toggle whether your first row contains column names. If it does, those names become the JSON keys. If not, keys default to col1, col2, etc.

Automatic Type Inference

Numbers stay numbers and true/false values become proper JSON booleans — not strings. The JSON output works correctly in JavaScript without extra parsing or casting.

Common Use Cases

  • Importing database exports into a Node.js or Python application
  • Migrating data between a spreadsheet and a JSON-based API
  • Preparing test fixtures from real-world data exports
  • Converting analytics reports for front-end visualization libraries

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert CSV to JSON?

Paste your CSV text or upload a .csv file. The converter detects the header row, parses each row into an object, and outputs a JSON array — ready to copy or download.

Does the converter handle CSVs that use semicolons or tabs instead of commas?

Yes — choose comma, tab (TSV), semicolon, or pipe as the delimiter, covering common formats from European-locale Excel exports and database tools.

Will numbers and booleans stay as numbers and booleans in the JSON output?

Yes. Numeric strings become JSON numbers and "true"/"false" become JSON booleans, so the result works correctly in JavaScript without extra parsing.

What if my CSV doesn't have a header row?

Toggle off header-row detection and the converter generates generic keys like col1, col2, and so on for each column.

Is my CSV data uploaded to a server during conversion?

No. Conversion happens entirely in your browser — your file is never sent anywhere, so it's safe to use with sensitive exports.

Related Tools

After converting, use the JSON Viewer to explore the result as a tree, or the JSON Formatter to pretty-print it. If your data source is XML instead of CSV, the XML to JSON converter handles that format.

Browse all free JSON tools →

Related tools

JSON Viewer JSON Formatter XML to JSON