In this article I will explain with an example, how to read CSV File in JavaScript using HTML5 File API.
The CSV file (Comma separated Text file) will be selected in HTML5 FileUpload element and will be read using HTML5 FileReader API.
The read data will be parsed into Rows and Columns and will be displayed in HTML Table.
 
 
Reading CSV File in JavaScript using HTML5 File API
The HTML Markup consists of a FileUpload control (HTML File Input) and a HTML Button i.e. Upload.
When the Button is clicked, the Upload JavaScript function is called.
Inside the function, first a check is performed to verify whether the file is a valid CSV or a text file. Then a check is performed to make sure whether the browser supports HTML5 File API.
Once the above checks are cleared then the contents of the CSV file are read as text string and then the string is split into parts using comma and new line characters and finally is displayed as an HTML Table.
<script type="text/javascript">
    function Upload() {
        var fileUpload = document.getElementById("fileUpload");
        var regex = /^([a-zA-Z0-9\s_\\.\-:])+(.csv|.txt)$/;
        if (regex.test(fileUpload.value.toLowerCase())) {
            if (typeof (FileReader) != "undefined") {
                var reader = new FileReader();
                reader.onload = function (e) {
                    var table = document.createElement("table");
                    var rows = e.target.result.split("\n");
                    for (var i = 0; i < rows.length; i++) {
                        var cells = rows[i].split(",");
                        if (cells.length > 1) {
                            var row = table.insertRow(-1);
                            for (var j = 0; j < cells.length; j++) {
                                var cell = row.insertCell(-1);
                                cell.innerHTML = cells[j];
                            }
                        }
                    }
                    var dvCSV = document.getElementById("dvCSV");
                    dvCSV.innerHTML = "";
                    dvCSV.appendChild(table);
                }
                reader.readAsText(fileUpload.files[0]);
            } else {
                alert("This browser does not support HTML5.");
            }
        } else {
            alert("Please upload a valid CSV file.");
        }
    }
</script>
<input type="file" id="fileUpload" />
<input type="button" id="upload" value="Upload" onclick="Upload()" />
<hr />
<div id="dvCSV">
</div>
 
 
Screenshots
Contents of the CSV file placed on user’s folder
Read CSV File in JavaScript using HTML5 File API
 
The CSV file being displayed in browser as HTML Table
Read CSV File in JavaScript using HTML5 File API
 
 
Browser Compatibility

The above code has been tested in the following browsers only in versions that support HTML5.

Internet Explorer  FireFox  Chrome  Safari  Opera 

* All browser logos displayed above are property of their respective owners.

 
 
Downloads
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