The short answer
- TSV is a text format for exchanging tabular data that separates fields with tabs and records with line breaks, with literal tabs excluded from field values.
- View a TSV file in a text editor, or open it as a table in Excel, LibreOffice Calc or OpenOffice Calc. On Windows, import it into Excel and choose a tab as the field delimiter. On Mac, use a text editor or a spreadsheet application that supports TSV. On a phone, check whether your chosen app supports plain text or TSV import before opening the file. If columns shift, inspect the original text for extra tabs or line breaks inside values.
- Treat unfamiliar TSV files cautiously when opening them in a spreadsheet. OWASP includes TSV in its spreadsheet export checks: values beginning with =, +, - or @ may be interpreted as formulas, creating risks of tampering, misleading results or data disclosure. Higher-impact behavior depends on the client configuration, legacy features and user interaction. The extension alone does not establish that a file will execute commands.
TSV files: identify, open and convert
TSV stands for Tab-Separated Values. The IANA registration requires field names on the first line and the same number of fields in every record. The Library of Congress treats this registration as the de facto specification and lists the .tsv extension and text/tab-separated-values media type. Headers can describe columns, but TSV does not itself support documentation of data quality or provenance.
Common spreadsheet applications can export TSV data to CSV, XLS or XLSX. Open or import the file, select tabs as delimiters, check the columns and then save or export to the target format. Literal tabs and line breaks cannot be carried directly as TSV field content; check the escape conventions used by both applications. Keep provenance and data-quality documentation separately when it must survive the conversion.
How to open it
View a TSV file in a text editor, or open it as a table in Excel, LibreOffice Calc or OpenOffice Calc. On Windows, import it into Excel and choose a tab as the field delimiter. On Mac, use a text editor or a spreadsheet application that supports TSV. On a phone, check whether your chosen app supports plain text or TSV import before opening the file. If columns shift, inspect the original text for extra tabs or line breaks inside values.
View a TSV file in a text editor, or open it as a table in Excel, LibreOffice Calc or OpenOffice Calc. On Windows, import it into Excel and choose a tab as the field delimiter. On Mac, use a text editor or a spreadsheet application that supports TSV. On a phone, check whether your chosen app supports plain text or TSV import before opening the file. If columns shift, inspect the original text for extra tabs or line breaks inside values.
Common spreadsheet applications can export TSV data to CSV, XLS or XLSX. Open or import the file, select tabs as delimiters, check the columns and then save or export to the target format. Literal tabs and line breaks cannot be carried directly as TSV field content; check the escape conventions used by both applications. Keep provenance and data-quality documentation separately when it must survive the conversion.
File safety
Treat unfamiliar TSV files cautiously when opening them in a spreadsheet. OWASP includes TSV in its spreadsheet export checks: values beginning with =, +, - or @ may be interpreted as formulas, creating risks of tampering, misleading results or data disclosure. Higher-impact behavior depends on the client configuration, legacy features and user interaction. The extension alone does not establish that a file will execute commands.
An unknown sender, a name ending in two extensions, or contents that do not match the extension — check before you open it.
Converting it
Common spreadsheet applications can export TSV data to CSV, XLS or XLSX. Open or import the file, select tabs as delimiters, check the columns and then save or export to the target format. Literal tabs and line breaks cannot be carried directly as TSV field content; check the escape conventions used by both applications. Keep provenance and data-quality documentation separately when it must survive the conversion.
Convert a copy, never the original, then compare quality, metadata, and layout against what you started with.
Common questions
What is a TSV file?
A TSV file is a plain-text table with fields separated by tabs and one record per line. The IANA registration requires column names on the first line, equal field counts in all records and no literal tabs within field values.
How do I open a TSV file on Windows and import it into Excel?
Use Excel's text import workflow and select a tab as the delimiter, then check that values align under the correct headers. A text editor can also show the underlying text before you import unfamiliar data.
How do I open a TSV file on Mac?
Use a text editor to read the file, or import it into a spreadsheet application that supports TSV. For tabular import, select a tab as the delimiter and check the column alignment.
How do I open a TSV file on a phone?
Check whether your phone's chosen app supports plain-text viewing or TSV import. Before opening the file, check the app's available viewing and import options. If import is available, use tabs as delimiters; otherwise, open the file on a computer with a text editor or supported spreadsheet.
Why are TSV file columns shifted after import?
Check that the importer uses tabs as delimiters. Extra tabs inside values create extra fields, while embedded line breaks can split records. Inspect the original text, compare field counts and check the producer's escape conventions.
TSV vs CSV: which format should I use for a table?
TSV separates fields with tabs; CSV uses commas. Choose the format accepted by the receiving application. For TSV, pay particular attention to values containing tabs or line breaks and agree on how those characters will be represented.
How do I convert a TSV file to XLSX, XLS or CSV?
Import the TSV into a compatible spreadsheet, check the delimiter and columns, then save or export as XLSX, XLS or CSV. Common spreadsheet programs support these exports. Check values and escaping after conversion.
Does a TSV file carry a formula injection risk?
Yes, when a spreadsheet interprets untrusted values as formulas. Values starting with =, +, - or @ require particular attention. Consequences depend on the application and its configuration; a TSV extension alone does not mean commands will execute.
How should tabs and line breaks be escaped in a TSV file?
Literal tabs and line breaks cannot be preserved directly inside TSV fields. The Library of Congress describes using escaped representations during conversion. Check the conventions of both exporter and importer rather than assuming a particular escape sequence is universally supported.
Does a TSV file that opens correctly preserve data provenance and prove accuracy?
No. Successful display only shows that an application can read the table. TSV does not itself support data-quality or provenance documentation, so retain that information separately and assess the source and values independently.
Related formats
Sources
IANA：text/tab-separated-values 媒体类型登记 · IANA，媒体类型注册机构及 TSV 事实规范
TSV, Tab-Separated Values · 美国国会图书馆，数字格式保存说明
OWASP Web Security Testing Guide：CSV Injection · OWASP Foundation，官方安全测试指南