CSV++ is an extension to the standard Comma-Separated Values (CSV) format as defined in RFC 4180, designed to add support for arrays and nested structures while remaining fully compatible with existing CSV parsers. It addresses the limitations of traditional CSV in representing real-world datasets that contain repeated values, structured components, or hierarchical relationships, such as multiple phone numbers per person or addresses composed of several fields. By occupying the middle ground between flat CSV and fully hierarchical formats like JSON or XML, CSV++ aims to bring additional structure without sacrificing the simplicity and compatibility of CSV.
The core feature of CSV++ is its ability to represent hierarchical and repeating data within the tabular CSV layout. Arrays are declared in column headers using the syntax field[], while structured fields use field^(component1^component2), allowing for recursively composable structures. The format supports configurable delimiters to avoid conflicts with data values, and structure is entirely defined in the column headers, making files self-documenting and human-readable without requiring an external schema. CSV++ maintains tabular readability, ensuring that data remains suitable for use in spreadsheets, and its columnar approach avoids the redundancy of repeating field names in every record, resulting in smaller file sizes compared to formats like JSON or XML.
Backward compatibility is a central design principle: standard CSV parsers can read CSV++ files without modification, enabling users to integrate the format into existing CSV-based toolchains from day one. The format is formally specified as an IETF Internet-Draft (draft-mscaldas-csvpp-02), ensuring it is interoperable, unambiguous, and ready for implementation. CSV++ is particularly suited for scenarios with moderately structured data (typically one to three levels of nesting), environments where CSV is already the interchange standard, and applications where file size and bandwidth are important considerations.
CSV++ is delivered as a data format specification and does not require specialized software for basic use, as it is designed to work with standard CSV tools. The default encoding is UTF-8. Its self-documenting syntax and backward compatibility make it accessible for data professionals seeking to represent hierarchical data in a familiar, tabular format.
In the Frameworks & SDKs space, CSV++ takes a focused approach. It focuses on representing hierarchical and nested data structures in CSV files without losing compatibility with existing tools. It is built as an open-source project for data engineers. The product is available for free. CSV++ is available on the web and the command line.
CSV++ first shipped in 2026. Development happens publicly on GitHub with 13 stars and 11 commits in the last 90 days. PulseGate's similarity index finds few close equivalents — CSV++ occupies a relatively distinct niche. Key capabilities include hierarchical data, CSV compatibility, and array support.
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