papaparse vs fast-csv vs csv-parser vs csvtojson
CSV Parsing Libraries Comparison
1 Year
papaparsefast-csvcsv-parsercsvtojsonSimilar Packages:
What's CSV Parsing Libraries?

CSV parsing libraries are essential tools in web development for converting CSV (Comma-Separated Values) data into JSON format, which is more manageable and usable in JavaScript applications. These libraries facilitate data import, export, and manipulation by providing efficient and flexible methods for reading and writing CSV files. They cater to various use cases, from simple data extraction to complex transformations, making them invaluable for applications that handle large datasets or require data interchange between systems.

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papaparse3,531,65912,781263 kB207a month agoMIT
fast-csv2,478,3221,6917.03 kB534 months agoMIT
csv-parser1,201,0681,44229.5 kB56a month agoMIT
csvtojson888,8032,021-1256 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: papaparse vs fast-csv vs csv-parser vs csvtojson

Performance

  • papaparse:

    papaparse is known for its speed in the browser, especially with smaller datasets. It employs web workers for asynchronous parsing, which helps maintain UI responsiveness during data processing.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv strikes a balance between performance and usability. It is optimized for both parsing and formatting, allowing for efficient handling of large datasets while providing a user-friendly API for developers.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser is optimized for speed and memory efficiency, making it suitable for parsing large CSV files without significant performance degradation. It streams data directly to the output, reducing memory usage and allowing for processing of data as it is read.

  • csvtojson:

    csvtojson is designed to handle various CSV formats and can efficiently convert large files to JSON. However, it may not be as fast as csv-parser due to its additional features and flexibility, which can introduce some overhead.

Ease of Use

  • papaparse:

    papaparse is designed with simplicity in mind, providing a clean and easy-to-use API for both parsing and converting CSV data. Its client-side focus makes it particularly accessible for web developers.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv is user-friendly and offers both parsing and formatting capabilities in a single package. Its API is intuitive, making it easy for developers to get started with CSV handling in their applications.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser offers a straightforward API that is easy to integrate into Node.js applications. Its simplicity makes it accessible for developers who need quick CSV parsing without a steep learning curve.

  • csvtojson:

    csvtojson provides a rich set of options for customization, which can make it slightly more complex to use than some alternatives. However, its documentation is comprehensive, helping users navigate its features effectively.

Streaming Support

  • papaparse:

    papaparse does not support streaming in the same way as server-side libraries but provides options for chunked processing, which can help manage larger datasets in the browser.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv offers robust streaming capabilities, enabling efficient reading and writing of CSV data. This feature is beneficial for applications that need to handle large files or continuous data streams.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser excels in streaming support, allowing developers to process large CSV files line by line without loading the entire file into memory. This is particularly advantageous for server-side applications that handle extensive datasets.

  • csvtojson:

    csvtojson supports streaming but is primarily focused on converting entire files at once. It may not be as efficient as csv-parser for extremely large files that require real-time processing.

Customization

  • papaparse:

    papaparse offers some customization features, such as specifying delimiters and handling different data types, but it is more focused on ease of use than extensive configuration.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv provides a good level of customization for both parsing and formatting, allowing developers to specify delimiters, headers, and other options to suit their needs.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser allows for basic customization through options like delimiters and headers, but it is primarily focused on performance and simplicity rather than extensive configuration.

  • csvtojson:

    csvtojson shines in customization options, supporting various delimiters, headers, and even transformations during the conversion process. This makes it suitable for handling diverse CSV formats.

Use Case Suitability

  • papaparse:

    papaparse is specifically designed for client-side applications, making it the go-to choice for web developers needing to parse CSV data directly in the browser.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv is versatile and suitable for both server-side and client-side applications, making it a good choice for projects that need to handle CSV data in various ways.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser is best suited for server-side applications that require fast and efficient CSV parsing, particularly when dealing with large files or real-time data processing.

  • csvtojson:

    csvtojson is ideal for applications that need to convert complex CSV files to JSON, especially when customization and flexibility are required.

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

    Choose papaparse if you need a client-side solution for parsing CSV files in the browser. It is fast, easy to use, and supports features like web workers for asynchronous parsing, making it ideal for applications that require real-time data processing in the front end.

  • fast-csv:

    Select fast-csv for its balance between performance and ease of use. It supports both parsing and formatting CSV data, making it versatile for applications that need to read from and write to CSV files. Its streaming capabilities allow for efficient processing of large files without consuming excessive memory.

  • csv-parser:

    Choose csv-parser if you need a lightweight and fast streaming parser for CSV files, particularly when dealing with large datasets. It is designed for Node.js and offers a simple API for parsing CSV data in a memory-efficient manner, making it ideal for server-side applications.

  • csvtojson:

    Opt for csvtojson if you require a comprehensive solution that supports various CSV formats and options, including custom delimiters and headers. It provides a straightforward API for converting CSV to JSON, making it suitable for applications that need to handle complex CSV structures or require extensive configuration.

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.