CSV and PDF explained
CSV is plain text where each line is a row and commas separate the fields. There is no formatting, no formulas, and no second sheet — which is precisely why every system on earth can read it.
PDF describes a page as a fixed arrangement of text, vector graphics and images. Unlike a word processor document, it is designed so the page looks identical everywhere — which is exactly why it is awkward to edit.
- Where CSV files come from
- Database exports, analytics tools and data interchange between systems.
- Where PDF is used
- Contracts, invoices, reports, forms, academic papers and scanned documents.