Procrustean string

Procrustean string

(programming)A fixed-length string. If a string value istoo long for the allocated space, it is truncated to fit; andif it is shorter, the empty space is padded, usually withspace characters.

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