papaparse vs fast-csv vs csv vs csv-parser
CSV Parsing Libraries Comparison
1 Year
papaparsefast-csvcsvcsv-parserSimilar Packages:
What's CSV Parsing Libraries?

CSV parsing libraries are essential tools in web development for handling CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files, which are widely used for data exchange and storage. These libraries provide functionalities to read, write, and manipulate CSV data efficiently, allowing developers to integrate CSV handling capabilities into their applications seamlessly. They vary in terms of performance, ease of use, and feature sets, catering to different needs based on the complexity of the data and the specific requirements of the project.

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papaparse3,547,12412,787263 kB207a month agoMIT
fast-csv2,496,8381,6957.03 kB544 months agoMIT
csv1,982,9254,1082.02 MB513 months agoMIT
csv-parser1,210,0281,44229.5 kB56a month agoMIT
Feature Comparison: papaparse vs fast-csv vs csv vs csv-parser

Performance

  • papaparse:

    'papaparse' is optimized for client-side performance and can handle large files efficiently in the browser, especially with web worker support.

  • fast-csv:

    'fast-csv' balances performance and usability, offering fast parsing and formatting capabilities, making it a good choice for applications that require quick data handling.

  • csv:

    The 'csv' library is lightweight and performs well for small to medium-sized CSV files, but may not be optimized for handling very large datasets efficiently.

  • csv-parser:

    Designed for high performance, 'csv-parser' streams data directly, allowing it to handle large CSV files without consuming excessive memory, making it suitable for server-side processing.

Ease of Use

  • papaparse:

    'papaparse' is known for its intuitive API and excellent documentation, making it very easy to use for client-side applications, especially for those new to CSV handling.

  • fast-csv:

    'fast-csv' provides a user-friendly API with extensive documentation, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels while offering advanced features for more complex use cases.

  • csv:

    The 'csv' library offers a simple API, making it easy to get started with basic CSV operations, suitable for developers looking for straightforward functionality.

  • csv-parser:

    While 'csv-parser' is efficient, its streaming nature may require a deeper understanding of streams, which could pose a slight learning curve for beginners.

Features

  • papaparse:

    'papaparse' includes features like automatic type detection, header support, and the ability to parse nested CSV structures, making it very powerful for client-side applications.

  • fast-csv:

    'fast-csv' offers both parsing and formatting capabilities, along with features like custom delimiters and headers, making it versatile for various CSV tasks.

  • csv:

    The 'csv' library focuses on core functionalities for parsing and formatting CSV data, lacking advanced features like streaming or handling complex CSV structures.

  • csv-parser:

    'csv-parser' supports streaming and can handle large files efficiently, but it does not provide built-in formatting capabilities, focusing primarily on parsing.

Use Case

  • papaparse:

    Perfect for web applications that need to handle CSV files directly in the browser, especially for user-uploaded files.

  • fast-csv:

    Great for applications that require both parsing and formatting of CSV data, especially when performance is a key concern.

  • csv:

    Best suited for simple applications where basic CSV parsing and formatting is required without additional complexity.

  • csv-parser:

    Ideal for server-side applications that need to process large CSV files efficiently, such as data import/export functionalities.

Community and Support

  • papaparse:

    'papaparse' has a large user base and excellent documentation, ensuring ample community support and resources for developers working with CSV in the browser.

  • fast-csv:

    With a robust community and extensive documentation, 'fast-csv' offers strong support and resources for developers, making it easier to troubleshoot and implement.

  • csv:

    The 'csv' library has a smaller community and may have limited support compared to more popular libraries, which could affect finding solutions to specific issues.

  • csv-parser:

    'csv-parser' has a growing community and good documentation, providing reasonable support for developers looking to implement it in their projects.

How to Choose: papaparse vs fast-csv vs csv vs csv-parser
  • papaparse:

    Choose 'papaparse' for a client-side solution that excels in parsing CSV data in the browser. It provides a user-friendly API and supports advanced features like web worker support for better performance, making it ideal for web applications that need to process CSV files interactively.

  • fast-csv:

    Select 'fast-csv' if you need a versatile library that supports both parsing and formatting of CSV files with a focus on speed. It offers a rich feature set and is well-suited for applications that need to handle CSV data in various formats and configurations.

  • csv:

    Choose 'csv' if you need a simple and lightweight solution for parsing and formatting CSV data without any additional overhead. It is suitable for basic CSV operations and offers a straightforward API.

  • csv-parser:

    Opt for 'csv-parser' when you require a fast and efficient streaming parser for large CSV files. It is designed for performance and can handle large datasets while consuming minimal memory, making it ideal for server-side applications.

README for papaparse

Parse CSV with JavaScript

Papa Parse is the fastest in-browser CSV (or delimited text) parser for JavaScript. It is reliable and correct according to RFC 4180, and it comes with these features:

  • Easy to use
  • Parse CSV files directly (local or over the network)
  • Fast mode
  • Stream large files (even via HTTP)
  • Reverse parsing (converts JSON to CSV)
  • Auto-detect delimiter
  • Worker threads to keep your web page reactive
  • Header row support
  • Pause, resume, abort
  • Can convert numbers and booleans to their types
  • Optional jQuery integration to get files from <input type="file"> elements
  • One of the only parsers that correctly handles line-breaks and quotations

Papa Parse has no dependencies - not even jQuery.

Install

papaparse is available on npm. It can be installed with the following command:

npm install papaparse

If you don't want to use npm, papaparse.min.js can be downloaded to your project source.

Usage

import Papa from 'papaparse';

Papa.parse(file, config);
    
const csv = Papa.unparse(data[, config]);

Homepage & Demo

To learn how to use Papa Parse:

The website is hosted on Github Pages. Its content is also included in the docs folder of this repository. If you want to contribute on it just clone the master of this repository and open a pull request.

Papa Parse for Node

Papa Parse can parse a Readable Stream instead of a File when used in Node.js environments (in addition to plain strings). In this mode, encoding must, if specified, be a Node-supported character encoding. The Papa.LocalChunkSize, Papa.RemoteChunkSize , download, withCredentials and worker config options are unavailable.

Papa Parse can also parse in a node streaming style which makes .pipe available. Simply pipe the Readable Stream to the stream returned from Papa.parse(Papa.NODE_STREAM_INPUT, options). The Papa.LocalChunkSize, Papa.RemoteChunkSize , download, withCredentials, worker, step, and complete config options are unavailable. To register a callback with the stream to process data, use the data event like so: stream.on('data', callback) and to signal the end of stream, use the 'end' event like so: stream.on('end', callback).

Get Started

For usage instructions, see the homepage and, for more detail, the documentation.

Tests

Papa Parse is under test. Download this repository, run npm install, then npm test to run the tests.

Contributing

To discuss a new feature or ask a question, open an issue. To fix a bug, submit a pull request to be credited with the contributors! Remember, a pull request, with test, is best. You may also discuss on Twitter with #PapaParse or directly to me, @mholt6.

If you contribute a patch, ensure the tests suite is running correctly. We run continuous integration on each pull request and will not accept a patch that breaks the tests.