CSV to Ruby Converter

About the CSV to Ruby Converter

This converter produces Ruby-friendly data structures from CSV files so you can drop sample data straight into scripts, Rails seeds, or tests. Instead of parsing at runtime, the tool generates arrays of hashes or nested arrays that mirror your spreadsheet.

Why Convert CSV to Ruby Arrays and Hashes?

Ruby developers often need lightweight fixtures for demos, documentation, or specs. Converting CSV to Ruby arrays/hashes lets you:

• Embed data directly in unit tests without file I/O.
• Seed databases using plain Ruby data structures.
• Prototype APIs by returning static arrays/hashes.
• Share reproducible examples in blog posts or lessons.

Key Features

• Associative Hash Output: When headers are enabled, each row becomes a hash ({ "name" => "John" }).
• Array Output: Without headers, rows become nested arrays for minimal overhead.
• Delimiter Options: Works with comma, semicolon, tab, and pipe-delimited CSV.
• Quote Escaping: Automatically escapes double quotes inside Ruby strings.
• Instant Preview: The Ruby output updates as you type or upload new data.
• Copy / Download: Copy to clipboard or download as output.rb.

How to Use the Converter

1. Paste or Upload CSV: Drop your CSV data into the text area or upload a file.
2. Configure Options: Toggle “First row is header” and select the delimiter.
3. Review Ruby Output: Inspect the generated data = [...] structure.
4. Copy or Download: Copy the code or download it for inclusion in your project.
5. Use in Ruby: Paste into seeds, specs, scripts, or console sessions.

Output Formats

• Array of Hashes: Default when headers exist (ideal for ActiveRecord seeds or JSON responses).
• Array of Arrays: Default when headers are disabled (great for simple enumerations or table-driven tests).

Common Use Cases

• Rails Seed Data: Convert CSV exports into Ruby hashes for db/seeds.rb.
• RSpec/ Minitest Fixtures: Embed inline data in specs without loading fixtures.
• API Mocking: Stub JSON responses by converting CSV to Ruby hashes, then calling .to_json.
• CLI Tools: Provide built-in reference data for Thor or Rake tasks.
• Education & Documentation: Show sample datasets in tutorials without external files.

Best Practices

• Use header row names that become meaningful hash keys.
• Keep datasets reasonably small when embedding directly in source files.
• Consider post-processing numeric strings into integers/floats if needed.
• Wrap the generated data in methods or constants (e.g., DATA = [...]) for reuse.

FAQ

• Does this infer Ruby types (integers, floats, booleans)? The converter treats all values as strings for predictability. If you need real Ruby numbers or booleans, you can cast them (for example with to_i, to_f, or comparisons) after importing the data.
• What happens if my headers contain spaces or special characters? Headers are used as-is as hash keys (e.g., { "Full Name" => "John" }). For cleaner code, you may want to rename headers in the CSV or transform keys to symbols after loading.
• Can I generate symbols instead of string keys? This tool outputs string keys for maximum compatibility. After import, you can convert them using Ruby (for example, mapping keys with transform_keys_to_symbols or a similar helper in your own code).
• Is this suitable for large datasets? For very large CSV files, embedding everything directly in Ruby source may not be ideal. Consider using the output for fixtures, small seeds, or examples, and keep bulk data in a database or separate files.

Privacy & Security

All CSV to Ruby conversions happen locally in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your CSV files and generated Ruby code never leave your device, making it safe to convert internal datasets.

Start Converting CSV to Ruby

Paste your CSV, configure headers and delimiters, and instantly get Ruby data structures you can drop into seeds, specs, or scripts. No dependencies, no setup—just clean Ruby arrays and hashes in seconds.