Comma Separated Values - Describes a file format that is often used to exchange data between disparate applications. The CSV file format, as it is used in Microsoft Excel, has become a pseudo standard throughout the industry, even among non-Microsoft platforms.

CSV files have become somewhat of a legacy format since the introduction of XML. In legacy systems though (pre-XML), CSV files had indeed become a de facto industry standard. Because of this, support for CSV is likely to be required long after it has stopped being implemented in new designs.

An excellent article on CSV is available on the world wide web titled:

The Comma Separated Value (CSV) File Format