procrustean string

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Procrustean string

   <programming> A fixed-length {string}.  If a string value is
   too long for the allocated space, it is truncated to fit; and
   if it is shorter, the empty space is padded, usually with
   space characters.

   This is an allusion to Procrustes, a legendary robber of ancient
   Attica.  He bound his victims to a bed, and if they were shorter
   than the bed, he stretched their limbs until they would fit; if
   their limbs were longer, he lopped them off.

   (1997-09-12)