Input kludge

In computer programming an Input Kludge is software that fails in handling simple user input. For example, if the program accepts free text input from the user, an ad-hoc algorithm will mishandle many combinations of legal and illegal input strings. Input kludge is usually difficult for a programmer to detect in unit test, but very easy for the end user to find. The anectodal evidence is the fact that the end user can easily crash new software.

Input Kludge is an example of an Anti-pattern.

To solve Input Kludge, use production quality algorithms to handle user input avoiding reinventing the wheel. Monkey test can be used to detect an input kludge problem.