Intakesuch

Intakesuch is a neologism used in discussions of data collection and process design to describe an approach that prioritizes sufficiency of inputs over exhaustiveness. The term characterizes the practice of gathering only as much information as is necessary to achieve a task, while avoiding unnecessary data. The word combines intake with such that, echoing mathematical notions of sufficiency. The concept has appeared in online forums, design handbooks, and privacy-focused discussions in the early 2020s as advocates of lean data practices promoted minimal collection.

In practice, intakesuch guides form design, API contracts, and interview protocols by focusing on the minimal data set required to qualify a response, test a hypothesis, or complete a transaction. An example is a signup form that collects only an email address to create an account, with optional fields deferred or collected later with consent; in analytics, a session record might capture only essential events rather than the full event stream.

Critics warn that too strict adoption can introduce bias, limit future analysis, or reduce robustness if needs evolve. Proponents argue that it supports privacy, reduces storage costs, and clarifies requirements by forcing explicit sufficiency criteria. There is no formal standard for intakesuch, and interpretations vary by domain. See also data minimization, minimal data, sufficiency, lean data.