A magic string is an input that a programmer believes will never come externally and which activates otherwise hidden functionality. A user of this program would likely provide input that gives an expected response in most situations. However, if the user does in fact innocently provide the pre-defined input, invoking the internal functionality, the program response is often quite unexpected to the user (thus appearing 'magical').
Read more about Magic String: Background, Purposeful Implementation
Famous quotes containing the words magic and/or string:
“Why not walk in the aura of magic that gives to the small things of life their uniqueness and importance? Why not befriend a toad today?”
—Germaine Greer (b. 1939)
“The most perfect expression of human behavior is a string quartet.”
—Jeffrey Tate (b. 1943)