Can someone explain: What is a CSV file and how is it used? or Newbie question: What is a CSV and why

"Newbie question: What is a CSV and why is it so common?"

Hey everyone,

Okay, dumb question time—what is a CSV? I keep seeing it everywhere, from downloading data to importing stuff into spreadsheets.

Like, is it just a fancy Excel file? Why do so many apps and tools use it instead of something else?

Also, how do I even open one? Tried double-clicking, and sometimes it works, sometimes it’s a mess.

Thanks for helping a confused noob out!

(Also, if anyone has a *super* simple explanation, that’d be awesome.)