Read CSV Files in Java Spring Boot 📄

Learn how to read CSV files in Java using Spring Boot. This guide covers implementing CSV file processing with practical code examples, highlighting best practices for efficient data handling in a Spring Boot application.
---
Disclaimer/Disclosure: Some of the content was synthetically produced using various Generative AI (artificial intelligence) tools; so, there may be inaccuracies or misleading information present in the video. Please consider this before relying on the content to make any decisions or take any actions etc. If you still have any concerns, please feel free to write them in a comment. Thank you.
---
How to Read a CSV File in Java Spring Boot

Reading CSV files is a common task in many web and enterprise applications. In Java, Spring Boot simplifies this process with its comprehensive ecosystem, which includes support for file handling and data processing. This guide guides you through the steps to read a CSV file in a Spring Boot application, leveraging the power of popular libraries such as Apache Commons CSV and OpenCSV.

Step 1: Set Up Your Spring Boot Project

Start by creating a new Spring Boot project. You can do this using Spring Initializr (https://start.spring.io/) or through your favorite IDE that supports Spring, like IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse. Make sure to include dependencies such as Spring Web and any other modules you find necessary for your project.

Step 2: Add CSV Processing Library Dependency

To process CSV files, you need to add a dependency for a CSV library. Apache Commons CSV and OpenCSV are two popular choices. Here’s how you can add them to your pom.xml if you are using Maven:

For Apache Commons CSV:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

For OpenCSV:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Create a Model Class

Define a model class that corresponds to the structure of the data in your CSV file. For example, if your CSV file contains user information like id, name, and email, your model class will look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 4: Implement CSV File Reading Logic

Now, implement the logic to read the CSV file. You can create a service class that handles file reading. Here’s how you can do it using Apache Commons CSV:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

For OpenCSV, the implementation differs slightly:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 5: Create a Controller to Handle File Upload

Finally, create a controller that allows users to upload a CSV file:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This controller handles file uploads and uses the CSVService to process the CSV file.

Conclusion

Reading CSV files in Spring Boot can be efficiently handled using libraries such as Apache Commons CSV and OpenCSV. By following the steps outlined above, you can integrate CSV file processing in your Spring Boot application to handle large data sets, perform batch operations, or import user data into your application.