Which file format is recommended for response data that includes special characters?

The recommended file format for response data that includes special characters is TSV (Tab-Separated Values). This format is particularly beneficial for handling special characters because it uses tabs to separate values, reducing the chances of data corruption or misinterpretation during the export and import processes. Unlike CSV (Comma-Separated Values), which can struggle with special characters if not properly escaped, TSV provides a cleaner approach. The tab character is less likely to appear within the actual data, thereby mitigating potential issues with delimiters.

XML (Extensible Markup Language) can also accommodate special characters, but it is generally more complex and verbose than TSV, which may not be needed for simple data export. DOCX (Microsoft Word Document format) is not suitable for data exports as it is designed for text documents and lacks the structured data format needed for handling response data effectively. Therefore, TSV stands out as the optimal choice for preserving data integrity when special characters are present.