Java CSV Libraries
Popular CSV Libraries Overview
Top Java CSV Libraries
Library |
Pros |
Cons |
Best Use Case |
OpenCSV |
Easy to use, Flexible |
Slower performance |
Small to medium datasets |
Apache Commons CSV |
High performance |
Less intuitive |
Large datasets |
SuperCSV |
Customizable |
Limited community |
Complex transformations |
Jackson CSV |
JSON-like parsing |
Steep learning curve |
JSON-based workflows |
OpenCSV Example
import com.opencsv.CSVWriter;
import java.io.FileWriter;
public class OpenCsvExample {
public static void writeCSV(String filename) {
try (CSVWriter writer = new CSVWriter(new FileWriter(filename))) {
String[] header = {"Name", "Age", "City"};
writer.writeNext(header);
String[] data1 = {"John Doe", "30", "New York"};
String[] data2 = {"Jane Smith", "25", "San Francisco"};
writer.writeNext(data1);
writer.writeNext(data2);
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
Library Selection Workflow
graph TD
A[Choose CSV Library] --> B{Project Requirements}
B --> |Performance| C[Apache Commons CSV]
B --> |Simplicity| D[OpenCSV]
B --> |Complex Parsing| E[SuperCSV]
B --> |JSON Integration| F[Jackson CSV]
Apache Commons CSV Advanced Usage
import org.apache.commons.csv.CSVFormat;
import org.apache.commons.csv.CSVPrinter;
public class ApacheCommonsExample {
public static void writeAdvancedCSV(List<Person> persons) {
try (CSVPrinter printer = new CSVPrinter(
new FileWriter("output.csv"),
CSVFormat.DEFAULT.withHeader("Name", "Age", "City")
)) {
for (Person person : persons) {
printer.printRecord(
person.getName(),
person.getAge(),
person.getCity()
);
}
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
Dependency Management
Maven Dependencies
<!-- OpenCSV -->
<dependency>
<groupId>com.opencsv</groupId>
<artifactId>opencsv</artifactId>
<version>5.5.2</version>
</dependency>
<!-- Apache Commons CSV -->
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.commons</groupId>
<artifactId>commons-csv</artifactId>
<version>1.9.0</version>
</dependency>
Recommended Practices
- Choose library based on specific requirements
- Consider performance and complexity
- Handle exceptions carefully
- Use try-with-resources
- Validate input data
At LabEx, we recommend exploring multiple libraries to find the best fit for your specific CSV processing needs.