JSON vs CSV
JSON represents nested structures; CSV is best for flat rows and columns.
JSON
Use it when
Use CSV for spreadsheet-like exports.
CSV
Use it when
Use JSON when hierarchy or typed API payloads matter.
Decision rule
Choose the option that matches the real requirement, data size, maintainability needs and compatibility constraints. Avoid selecting a technique only because it is familiar.
Need clarity?Prefer the simpler option that expresses the business rule directly.
Verify before scaling
Run both approaches on a small known dataset if the difference affects financial, inventory or operational decisions. Equivalent-looking techniques can behave differently with duplicates, blanks, NULL values or version constraints.