Comma-Separated Values, a file format used to store tabular data in plain text. Each line represents a row, with fields separated by commas.
Acronym formed in the early days of computing, circa 1970s, from the descriptive phrase 'comma-separated values.' The format emerged as a simple way to exchange data between different computer systems and software applications before more complex formats were developed.
Despite being one of the oldest data formats in computing, CSV remains incredibly popular because of its simplicity and universal readability. Almost every spreadsheet application and programming language can handle CSV files, making it the 'lingua franca' of data exchange in the digital age.
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