Comma separator
Convert a list to comma-separated values or split CSV back into a list. Custom separator, sort and deduplicate.
Ctrl + L clear | Ctrl + Shift + C copy output
About delimited lists
Lists live in two shapes: vertical, with one item per line, and horizontal, with items joined by a separator. Humans read vertical lists more easily, which is why spreadsheets, checklists and databases present data that way — but software interfaces constantly demand the horizontal form. Tag fields, recipient boxes, SQL IN clauses, ad platform keyword uploads and configuration values all expect "apple, banana, cherry" on a single line. Converting between the two shapes is trivial for three items and miserable for three hundred, which is exactly the gap a list-to-comma converter fills — in both directions, with the separator of your choice.
Comma separated, comma delimited and CSV
Three phrases get used interchangeably and mean almost the same thing. Comma separated describes the shape of the text: values with a comma between them. Comma delimited is the same idea named after the delimiter doing the separating, and is the wording most database and export tools prefer. CSV is the file format built on that shape, where each line is a record and each comma marks a new field. In everyday use, when someone asks you to separate by comma, convert to comma separated values, or send a comma delimited list, they want exactly what this tool produces.
The distinction only starts to matter once your values contain commas of their own. "Smith, John" as a single value has to be wrapped in quotes or it reads as two fields — which is why the quote-wrapping option exists here, and why pasting raw text into a spreadsheet sometimes splits a column in unexpected places.
| Separator | Written as | Where it is expected |
|---|---|---|
| Comma | a, b, c | Tag fields, SQL IN clauses, keyword uploads, CSV files |
| Semicolon | a; b; c | European spreadsheet locales, email recipient fields in Outlook |
| Pipe | a|b|c | Database exports and log files, where values often contain commas |
| Tab | a→b→c | TSV files and anything pasted straight into spreadsheet columns |
| Space | a b c | Command-line arguments and simple config values |
Common use cases
SEO professionals convert keyword lists to comma-separated format for uploading to Google Ads, SEMrush, or Ahrefs. Developers convert arrays of values to strings for use in SQL IN clauses — "WHERE id IN (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)". Data analysts format lists for pasting into spreadsheet cells or database import tools. Marketers format email lists, product lists, and tag lists for various CRM and marketing platforms that require comma-separated input.
Which tool to reach for depends on how much cleaning the list needs. This comma separator is the full workbench: it deduplicates, sorts and quote-wraps while it converts. When the job is a plain join or split with nothing to tidy, line break to comma does it in one paste. For building an actual spreadsheet file with rows and columns rather than a single delimited line, use text to CSV. And when the input arrived with repeats or ragged spacing, duplicate line remover and remove extra spaces are the usual first passes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a list to comma separated values?
Paste your list — one item per line — into the left panel in List to CSV mode, and the joined result appears instantly on the right. By default a space follows each comma for readability ("apple, banana, cherry"); toggle it off when a system wants tight formatting with no spaces. The output is ready to paste into a tag field, an SQL IN clause, a keyword uploader or anywhere else that expects values on one line.
Can I use a separator other than a comma?
Yes — semicolons, pipes, tabs, spaces, or any custom character you type. The presets match real conventions: semicolons are what European-locale spreadsheets expect, pipes are common in database exports because data often contains commas, and joining with tabs produces TSV that pastes straight into spreadsheet columns. The same separator choice applies in reverse when splitting text back into a list.
Can I split a comma separated list back into individual lines?
Yes. Switch to CSV to List mode, paste the comma-separated text, and each value lands on its own line with surrounding whitespace trimmed automatically — "apple , banana , cherry" splits into three clean items, not three items with stray spaces. This direction is handy when a database query, API response or spreadsheet formula hands you one long string and you need to work through the items individually.
Can I remove duplicates from the list?
Yes. Enable Remove duplicates and repeated values are dropped during conversion, keeping the first occurrence of each. Combine it with Sort A–Z and a messy pasted list comes out deduplicated, alphabetized and joined in one step — a common cleanup when merging keyword lists or email addresses from several sources. For heavier list surgery, the dedicated duplicate line remover offers case-sensitivity controls too.
What is a CSV file?
CSV stands for Comma Separated Values — a plain text format where each row is a line and each value in the row is separated by a comma. Because it is plain text, every spreadsheet, database and programming language can read it, making CSV the universal medium for moving data between systems since the 1970s. This tool produces the single-row flavour of CSV; for converting whole tables with quoting rules, use the dedicated text to CSV converter.