.TSV File Extension
Tab-Separated Values File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.5 | 90 Votes |
| Category | Data Files |
| Format | Text |
What is a TSV file?
A TSV file is a tab-separated values file commonly used by spreadsheet applications to exchange data between databases. It stores a data table in which each record in the table is on a separate line, and data columns are separated by tabs.
The TSV format is one of the most common formats for transferring data between applications and databases. It is an alternative format to .CSV, which is another popular format for exporting spreadsheet data. However, CSV files use commas to separate columns of data instead of tabs.
TSV files are especially helpful for transferring data saved in a proprietary format into another program that does not support the format. For example, you can export email addresses in a spreadsheet application to a TSV file to upload it to an online emailing service. Or, you can export financial information from an online financial service to a TSV file, then import the file into a spreadsheet application.
NOTE: TSV files may also be saved as .TAB files.
How to open a TSV file
You can open TSV files with a large number of applications, including Microsoft Excel (multiplatform) and OpenOffice Calc (multiplatform).
You can upload TSV files to Google Sheets to view, edit, save, and convert the files. You can also open TSV files on mobile devices with Google Sheets (Android and iOS) and TSV File Viewer (Android).
Since TSV files are saved as plain text, you can open them with a plain text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad (bundled with Windows) and Apple TextEdit (bundled with macOS).