# JSON <> CSV Converter (`dr.skywalker/json-csv-converter`) Actor

Convert between JSON arrays and CSV in both directions. JSON objects are flattened (nested keys become dot-notation columns), CSV values get light type inference (numbers, booleans, nulls).

- **URL**: https://apify.com/dr.skywalker/json-csv-converter.md
- **Developed by:** [Luqin Wang](https://apify.com/dr.skywalker) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $30.00 / 1,000 conversion completeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## JSON ↔ CSV Converter

Convert data between JSON and CSV in both directions, with sensible defaults:

- **JSON → CSV**: nested objects become dot-notation columns (e.g. `address.city`),
  arrays become JSON strings in a single cell. Header row is the union of all keys.
- **CSV → JSON**: light type inference — empty cells become `null`, `true`/`false`
  become booleans, numeric cells become numbers, everything else stays a string.

### Input

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Direction | `JSON -> CSV` or `CSV -> JSON` |
| Input file URL | Public URL of a JSON or CSV file |
| Or: paste input text | Paste the JSON or CSV content directly |
| CSV delimiter | `,` `;` tab or `|` (default: comma) |
| Flatten nested JSON objects | On by default (JSON → CSV only) |

### Output

- **Dataset**: one item per converted row/object
- **Key-value store `OUTPUT.csv`** / **`OUTPUT.json`**: the converted file

Large converted files are stored as bounded parts. In that case the normal
output key contains a small pointer to a manifest that identifies the parts in
concatenation order.

### Reliability and limits

- Input is admitted up to 8 MiB and URL responses are read in bounded chunks.
- Billing intent and an exact source snapshot are stored before each charge.
- A charge failure stops conversion; charged batches are checkpointed before a
  later batch is charged.
- Partial billing preserves every unpaid source item and publishes a separate
  preservation report.
- CSV parsing is strict: headers must be nonempty and unique, and every row
  must have the header's field count. CR, LF, CRLF, and mixed endings work.

### Pricing (pay-per-event)

- **$0.03** per conversion run
- **$0.0001** per row/item converted

### Run via API

```bash
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{"direction": "jsonToCsv", "inputText": "[{\"a\": 1}, {\"a\": 2}]"}' \
     "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/<username>~json-csv-converter/runs?waitForFinish=60"
```

### Local development

```bash
mkdir -p storage/key_value_stores/default
## put {"direction": "jsonToCsv", "inputText": "..."} in storage/key_value_stores/default/INPUT.json
APIFY_LOCAL_STORAGE_DIR=./storage python3 -m src.main
```

# Actor input Schema

## `delimiter` (type: `string`):

Field delimiter for reading/writing the CSV side.

## `direction` (type: `string`):

Which way to convert.

## `flattenNested` (type: `boolean`):

JSON -> CSV only: turn nested objects into dot-notation columns (e.g. address.city). Lists are written as JSON strings.

## `inputText` (type: `string`):

Paste the JSON or CSV content directly. Required unless an input URL is given.

## `inputUrl` (type: `string`):

Public URL of a JSON or CSV file to convert.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "delimiter": ",",
  "direction": "jsonToCsv",
  "flattenNested": true,
  "inputText": "[{\"name\":\"Ada\",\"active\":true,\"address\":{\"city\":\"London\"},\"tags\":[\"math\",\"code\"]}]"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `files` (type: `string`):

Key-value store with the converted OUTPUT.csv or OUTPUT.json file, bounded parts when needed, billing journals, and preservation records.

## `results` (type: `string`):

Dataset with one item per converted record.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "inputText": "[{\"name\":\"Ada\",\"active\":true,\"address\":{\"city\":\"London\"},\"tags\":[\"math\",\"code\"]}]"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("dr.skywalker/json-csv-converter").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "inputText": "[{\"name\":\"Ada\",\"active\":true,\"address\":{\"city\":\"London\"},\"tags\":[\"math\",\"code\"]}]" }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("dr.skywalker/json-csv-converter").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "inputText": "[{\\"name\\":\\"Ada\\",\\"active\\":true,\\"address\\":{\\"city\\":\\"London\\"},\\"tags\\":[\\"math\\",\\"code\\"]}]"
}' |
apify call dr.skywalker/json-csv-converter --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,dr.skywalker/json-csv-converter"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/NF463035e18fQoVHC/builds/Tat4JGvpdmsNewgLI/openapi.json