Batch convert TSV files to JSON files

Shiji Pan

1 year ago

Want to batch convert TSV files to JSON files?

Try Withdata Data File Converter, a desktop TSV to JSON converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Batch convert TSV to JSON, Easy and Fast.

Can run in GUI mode, Step by Step, just a few mouse clicks.
Can run in Command line, for Scheduled Tasks and Streams.
Convert files locally and privately, avoid uploading large TSV file(s) to online services.
Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Click “Start a New Convert” at task dialog.

then show the wizard.

Select From “Files” “TSV” To “Files” “JSON”.

And config the first source TSV file.

List source TSV files.

After converting, you can view output JSON files.

TSV → JSON reference

Value kind	in TSV	in JSON
Int	`1234`	`1234 (number)`
Decimal	`1234.56`	`1234.56 (number)`
Float	`1.234e+10`	`1.234e10 (number)`
Text	`unquoted; a tab in the value splits the column`	`"text" (string)`
Long text	`unquoted; newlines break the row`	`"multi-line\ntext" (escaped newline inside a string)`
Date	`2026-09-18`	`"2026-09-18" (string)`
Datetime	`2026-09-18 14:30:00`	`"2026-09-18T14:30:00Z" (string)`
Binary	`not representable`	`"base64:..." (string)`
Boolean	`TRUE / FALSE`	`true / false (boolean)`
JSON	`the whole JSON value as-is (its own quotes stay)`	`nested object or array, kept as structure`

Both TSV and JSON are file formats, so what differs below is how each one chooses to represent a value.

Property	in TSV	in JSON
identifiers	`Rarely used, which is exactly why tabs in data break it`	`Double quotes; backslash escapes`
dates	`Conventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00`	`No date type: dates arrive as strings and the reader must p...`
binary	`Not supported - must be encoded`	`Not supported natively - base64 inside a string`
separator	`Tab`	`Braces and commas`
encoding	`No declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM`	`UTF-8 by definition`
typing	`None - every field is text`	`string, number, boolean, null, object, array - no date type`
shape	`Flat table, optional header row`	`Nested objects and arrays`
ceiling	`No formal limit`	`Whole document is usually parsed into memory`

For batch jobs, large files and scheduling use the Data File Converter converter — an offline desktop app for Windows, Linux and macOS. Free trial.

New to the format? Read what a TSV file is (and how it differs from CSV).