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Javascript code to parse CSV data
Javascript: Splitting a string by comma but ignoring commas in quotes

I have a comma separated string like this:

car,jeep,,"ute,van",suv,truck

I need to split it and add it to array as following entries:

car
jeep

ute,van
suv 
truck

I am currently first splitting the string by " and then replace , with some other character in the parts that have , only in the middle but not at the either ends.

Also I check if the length of split array is greater than 1 because in case I get strings that don't have " at all, I want to skip the replacing , part.

Then finally I join the array using "" to get the end result.

Can someone suggest any better way and efficient way to do this possibly using regex?

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  • 1
    You should use a CSV parser. Commented Feb 1, 2013 at 10:36
  • 1
    @ChaitanyaM: Uh, that is pure JavaScript. Commented Feb 1, 2013 at 10:38
  • Thanks @TimPietzcker for pointing me to CSV Parser. The algorithm there looks like an overkill and hard to understand. I believe my algorithm is simple and easy to understand. So unless proven otherwise, I will stick to mine. Commented Feb 1, 2013 at 10:55
  • No problem to prove otherwise. CSV is a nontrivial format. Try this string: ',wood,"2"" by 4""","oak\ncomposite",'. Your approach fails on escaped quotes and on empty field at the start and end of the string. Commented Feb 1, 2013 at 10:58
  • I can never have empty string at the start. I skip the parts that have , at the either or both ends. So having empty string at the end doesn't harm I believe. Also I missed one more step in my algo. I finally split the string by comma after replacing interim commas with say ; Commented Feb 1, 2013 at 11:10
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