It's very common for a question to leave the input format unspecified and simply let the golfer choose a 'reasonable' input format. I'd say this is a bit vague, and we should decide what can be considered reasonable.

I recognize two separate categories, with subcategories (feel free to edit):

  • Input separation.
  • Input data.
    • Strings.
    • Numbers.
    • Images.

In order to organize this, post your suggested input method, one per answer, in the following format:

Category (- Subcategory) - Name

This is a short description of the input method. However absurd it might be, leave your own opinion for the comments.

-1 from me, this is just absurd. — orlp 3 hours ago

Then, any input method with a negative score is by default disallowed. Any input method with a positive score is by default allowed. Any input method not listed may or may not be reasonable, and should be confirmed by the challenge poster, and possibly added to the list.

  • 4
    \$\begingroup\$ The input source has been discussed before. It's also strongly discouraged to post options that aren't your own opinion for polling purposes. \$\endgroup\$ – Martin Ender Sep 9 '15 at 6:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MartinBüttner I think that's not the same as what's happening here however. Each answer is a poll of itself, rather than an option to a poll. I'll remove input source from this discussion. \$\endgroup\$ – orlp Sep 9 '15 at 6:41

Input separation - Newlines

Separating input by placing newlines in between them.


Input separation - Any combination of reasonable separations.

Separating input by using any combination of other reasonable separations. For example, using both newlines and spaces:

3 "test"
5 "cool"

Input data - Numbers - Scientific notation

Reading a number encoded in scientific notation. E.g.: 2.321e21.


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