What is CSV and why extract columns?

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple file format used to store tabular data in plain text. Each line represents a row, and values within rows are separated by commas. CSV files are widely used for data exchange between applications like spreadsheets, databases, and analytics tools because they're lightweight and universally supported.

Extracting specific columns from CSV data means selecting only the fields you need from a larger dataset. This is useful when working with large files containing many columns where you only need a subset of the information. Column extraction helps reduce file size, simplify data analysis, and focus on relevant information without manually editing the entire file.

Tool description

This tool allows you to extract and filter specific columns from CSV data. Simply paste your CSV content, and the tool automatically detects all column headers. Use the multi-select dropdown to choose which columns to keep, and the tool instantly generates a new CSV file containing only your selected columns. Perfect for quickly filtering large CSV files without opening spreadsheet software.

Features

  • Automatic column detection from CSV headers
  • Interactive multi-select dropdown with search
  • Real-time preview of filtered data
  • Preserves CSV formatting and quoted values
  • Handles special characters and newlines in cells

Use cases

  • Filter large datasets to extract only relevant columns for analysis
  • Reduce CSV file size by removing unnecessary fields before sharing
  • Prepare data for import into applications that accept specific columns
  • Quickly review and select columns from unfamiliar CSV files
  • Combine data from multiple sources by extracting matching columns