csvw
Python library to work with CSVW described tabular data
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. csvw is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries no known vulnerabilities, and is licensed permissively. Install it if you need to work with W3C CSVW-described data, validate CSV against formal schemas, or bridge Frictionless Data and CSVW ecosystems. The 4.x API is not backward compatible with earlier versions, so verify your use case aligns with the current API before upgrading existing code.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python >=3.9
- Low friction install with 9 runtime dependencies.
- Actively maintained with a release 39 days ago and recent commits.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache 2.0 (permissive) — Distributed under Apache 2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions beyond attribution.
last release 2026-07-06 (39 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-06 · 51 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,438,346 downloads/mo, #3,896 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install csvw
from csvw import CSVW
import json
data = CSVW('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cldf/csvw/master/tests/fixtures/test.tsv')
print(json.dumps(data.to_json(minimal=True), indent=4))- Whether the 4.x API breaking changes affect your existing codebase (changelog referenced but not provided)
- Performance characteristics with large CSV files or complex schemas
- Full extent of Frictionless Data compatibility beyond conversion methods shown
What it is and what it does
csvw is a Python library implementing the W3C CSV on the Web specification for reading, writing, and validating tabular data with structured metadata. It provides both a programmatic API for working with CSVW-described datasets and command-line tools (csvw2json, csvwvalidate, csvwdescribe) for common operations. The package handles CSV files with associated JSON metadata that describe table schemas, dialects, and data types, enabling structured interchange of tabular data with semantic meaning.
The library passes 269 of 270 JSON tests and 280 of 282 validation tests from the W3C CSVW test suite, making it suitable for production use. It also bridges Frictionless Data specifications, allowing conversion between CSVW metadata and Data Package formats. Known limitations include UTF-8 BOM handling, CSV dialect edge cases with comment prefixes, and some escapechar round-tripping issues inherited from Python's standard csv module.
Use it for
- Convert CSV files to JSON with full schema validation and type coercion using CSVW metadata
- Validate CSV datasets against W3C CSVW specifications before processing or publishing
- Generate CSVW metadata descriptors for raw CSV files with automatic schema inference
- Migrate tabular data between Frictionless Data packages and W3C CSVW formats
- Parse and read CSV files with complex, multi-table schemas and type constraints
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
csvw is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries no known vulnerabilities, and is licensed permissively. Install it if you need to work with W3C CSVW-described data, validate CSV against formal schemas, or bridge Frictionless Data and CSVW ecosystems. The 4.x API is not backward compatible with earlier versions, so verify your use case aligns with the current API before upgrading existing code.
Install
csvw on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction install with 9 runtime dependencies. Actively maintained with a release 39 days ago and recent commits. Supports Python 3.9 through 3.14 on both CPython and PyPy.
Requires Python >=3.9
License in practice
Distributed under Apache 2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions beyond attribution.
Quickstart
pip install csvw
from csvw import CSVW
import json
data = CSVW('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cldf/csvw/master/tests/fixtures/test.tsv')
print(json.dumps(data.to_json(minimal=True), indent=4))Verify before relying
- Whether the 4.x API breaking changes affect your existing codebase (changelog referenced but not provided)
- Performance characteristics with large CSV files or complex schemas
- Full extent of Frictionless Data compatibility beyond conversion methods shown
Package facts
| License | Apache 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 9 packagesisodatepython-dateutilrfc3986uritemplatebabellanguage-tagsrdflibtermcolorjsonschema |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 39 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,438,346 / month, #3,896 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPy |
Evidence: csvw-4.1.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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