# CSV Files in Bash, and Their Limits

A CSV file is a table saved as text: while IFS=, read -r reads it a row at a time into named variables, awk -F, picks and totals its columns, and a comma inside a quoted value breaks both.

![Cheat sheet for the lesson CSV Files in Bash, and Their Limits: A CSV file is a table saved as text: while IFS=, read -r reads it a row at a time into named variables, awk -F, picks and totals its columns, and a comma inside a quoted value breaks both.](https://fsdtrainingmedia.blob.core.windows.net/public/images/2026/11/fad17ac917404e4b8c17bb3ec74b2087.webp)

- Category: Bash
- Level: Journeyman
- Tags: awk, CSV File, field-separator, ifs, linux, unix
- Updated: November 10, 2026

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/cheat-sheets/bash-csv-files-cheat-sheet