What Is a Delimited File?

A delimited file is a text file where each row contains fields separated by a specific character, such as a comma, pipe, tab, or semicolon.

Delimited files in plain language

Delimited files are common in reporting, imports, exports, warehouse systems, accounting systems, and test data workflows. Each line is usually one record, and each delimiter separates one field from the next.

poNumber,sku,quantity,unitPrice
123456,ABC123,10,15.25
123456,XYZ789,4,7.50

Common delimiters

Comma CSV uses commas between fields and is common for spreadsheets.

Pipe-delimited files use | and are common in integrations because the pipe is less likely to appear inside normal text.

Tab-delimited files use tab characters and are often used for spreadsheet exports.

Semicolon-delimited files are sometimes used when commas appear in numeric or regional formats.

Why delimiter conversion matters

One system may export comma CSV while another expects pipe-delimited or tab-delimited input. A converter lets QA and integration teams take the same rows and generate the file format needed by the target system.

USA Data Tools can load or paste a delimited file, detect the input delimiter, preview the rows, and export a converted file in the browser.