How to Parse CSV Files in C#: A Quick Guide

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files are a common format for data exchange. Here's how to parse them effectively in C#:

Using the Built-in Methods

The simplest approach uses File.ReadAllLines() and string splitting:

string[] lines = File.ReadAllLines("data.csv");
foreach (string line in lines)
{
    string[] values = line.Split(',');
    // Process values here
}

Using CsvHelper (Recommended)

For more robust parsing, the CsvHelper library offers better handling of escaped characters and complex data:

using CsvHelper;
using System.Globalization;

using (var reader = new StreamReader("data.csv"))
using (var csv = new CsvReader(reader, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
{
    var records = csv.GetRecords<MyClass>();
    foreach (var record in records)
    {
        // Access strongly-typed data
        Console.WriteLine(record.PropertyName);
    }
}

Best Practices

• Handle quoted fields and escaped characters
• Consider performance for large files (use streaming approaches)
• Validate data integrity after parsing
• Use appropriate error handling for malformed data

This minimal approach will get you started with CSV parsing in C#, whether you need a quick solution or a production-ready implementation.