TSV to JSON
Convert TSV to JSON online free. Supports headers, auto type detection, and minification. All processing in browser.
What is TSV format and how does it differ from CSV?
TSV (Tab Separated Values) uses tab characters as field delimiters, while CSV uses commas. TSV is simpler because it doesn't need to handle comma escaping within fields, making it ideal for data that contains commas.
How does the first row as header option work?
When enabled, the first row of the TSV is used as property names for each JSON object. When disabled, each row is converted into a JSON array instead.
What are dynamic types?
Dynamic type detection automatically converts numeric strings to numbers, "true"/"false" to booleans, and empty values to null. Disable it to keep all values as strings.
How are empty cells handled?
Empty cells are converted to empty strings by default. With dynamic types enabled, empty cells are converted to null values in the JSON output.
Can TSV contain special characters or escaped tabs?
Standard TSV does not support escape sequences for tabs within fields. If your data contains literal tabs, consider using CSV format instead. The tool handles all other special characters correctly.
How to convert TSV from Excel to JSON?
In Excel, save your file as "Text (Tab delimited)" format (.txt or .tsv), then paste the content or upload the file into this tool to convert it to JSON.
What is the output JSON structure?
With headers enabled, each row becomes a JSON object with header values as keys. Without headers, each row becomes a JSON array. All rows are wrapped in a top-level JSON array.
How to handle large TSV files?
Since the conversion runs entirely in your browser, file size is limited by available memory. For very large TSV files, consider splitting them into smaller batches.
Is the conversion done locally in the browser?
Yes. All processing happens entirely in your browser. No data is uploaded to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security.
How to format/prettify the JSON output?
By default, the output is minified for compact size. Toggle off the minify option to get a nicely formatted, indented JSON output that is easy to read.
Can I convert JSON back to TSV?
This tool is specifically designed for TSV to JSON conversion. For the reverse operation, you can use our JSON to TSV converter tool.
What encoding does the tool support?
The tool supports UTF-8 encoding by default and correctly handles multilingual characters such as Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and special symbols.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes, this tool is completely free. No registration is required and there are no hidden fees or usage limits.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. The tool features a responsive design and works seamlessly on mobile browsers, tablets, and desktop browsers.
How to Use TSV to JSON
Convert TSV (tab-separated) data into JSON right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded — all parsing and formatting happen locally on your device.
- Paste your TSV text into the input area, with each record on its own line and columns separated by tabs.
- Tick "First row as header" if the first line contains column names, and enable "Trim values" to strip stray spaces around cells.
- Under "Output format:" choose between Array of Objects, Array of Arrays, Columns-based, and JSON Lines (NDJSON).
- Keep "Dynamic types" on so numbers and booleans are detected automatically instead of staying strings.
- Check the result in "JSON Output" mode, or switch to "Table Preview" to eyeball how the columns were split.
- Enable "Minify JSON" for a compact single-line result, then copy it to your clipboard.
If every value comes out as a string, "Dynamic types" is probably off — TSV carries no type information of its own.
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