Skip to content

Commit fad74c8

Browse files
committed
docs: update CSV page to improve readability and language (GH-135243)
1 parent 8fdbbf8 commit fad74c8

File tree

1 file changed

+17
-15
lines changed

1 file changed

+17
-15
lines changed

Doc/library/csv.rst

Lines changed: 17 additions & 15 deletions
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -14,23 +14,25 @@
1414

1515
--------------
1616

17-
The so-called CSV (Comma Separated Values) format is the most common import and
18-
export format for spreadsheets and databases. CSV format was used for many
19-
years prior to attempts to describe the format in a standardized way in
20-
:rfc:`4180`. The lack of a well-defined standard means that subtle differences
21-
often exist in the data produced and consumed by different applications. These
22-
differences can make it annoying to process CSV files from multiple sources.
23-
Still, while the delimiters and quoting characters vary, the overall format is
24-
similar enough that it is possible to write a single module which can
25-
efficiently manipulate such data, hiding the details of reading and writing the
26-
data from the programmer.
17+
The Comma Separated Values (CSV) format is the most common import and
18+
export format for spreadsheets and databases. The basic format is columns
19+
of text data separated by a comma delimiter. The standards for CSV data are
20+
defined in :rfc:`4180`.
21+
22+
The CSV format was used for many years before the standards were defined, and
23+
adherence to the standards is inconsistent. As a result, there can be variations
24+
in the delimiters and quoting characters in the CSV data that is produced and
25+
consumed by different applications. These differences can make it troublesome to
26+
process CSV files from multiple sources. However, the basic format is standard enough
27+
that a single module can efficiently manipulate this data and enable the programmer to
28+
read and write files without having to account for inconsistencies.
2729

2830
The :mod:`csv` module implements classes to read and write tabular data in CSV
29-
format. It allows programmers to say, "write this data in the format preferred
30-
by Excel," or "read data from this file which was generated by Excel," without
31-
knowing the precise details of the CSV format used by Excel. Programmers can
32-
also describe the CSV formats understood by other applications or define their
33-
own special-purpose CSV formats.
31+
format. For example, the module enables programmers to say, "write this data in the
32+
format preferred by Excel," or "read data from this file which was generated by Excel,"
33+
without knowing the precise details of the CSV format that is used by Excel. Programmers
34+
can also describe CSV formats that are used by other applications or define custom CSV
35+
formats for specific use cases.
3436

3537
The :mod:`csv` module's :class:`reader` and :class:`writer` objects read and
3638
write sequences. Programmers can also read and write data in dictionary form

0 commit comments

Comments
 (0)