Understanding CSV Delimiters: Comma, Semicolon, Tab, and Pipe
Updated 2026-02-27
•Published by OnlineCSV Editorial### What is a CSV Delimiter?
A delimiter is the boundary character separating fields within a record. While the name "CSV" implies commas, regional software conventions vary:
- **Comma (`,`)**: Standard in US, UK, and countries using point (`.`) as decimal separators.
- **Semicolon (`;`)**: Common in European countries where the comma (`,`) is used as a decimal separator (e.g. `12,50 €`).
- **Tab (`\t`)**: Used in TSV files.
- **Pipe (`|`)**: Frequently used in mainframe data exports to prevent collision with addresses.
### Fixing Delimiter Mismatches
If your CSV file opens with all data squished into a single column, your software is expecting a comma but the file uses semicolons or tabs. Use the [OnlineCSV Viewer](/csv-viewer) to auto-detect and change delimiters on the fly.