Svarfiler

Svarfiler are files that store user-provided answers produced by interactive software, surveys, or automated decision tools. The term is derived from the Scandinavian words svar ('answer') and fil ('file'), and is used in Nordic computing and documentation to describe records of responses generated during an interaction session.

In practice, svarfiler may be created by command-line prompts, web-based questionnaires, or learning platforms. They facilitate batch processing, result aggregation, session resumption after interruptions, and auditability of responses.

Formats for svarfiler vary, including plain text with key-value pairs, JSON, XML, or CSV. Common fields include respondent_id, timestamp, question_id or item_id, and answer. Some implementations also capture metadata such as question type, validation status, and source of the response.

Privacy and security considerations are important: data should be stored with appropriate access controls, encryption at rest and in transit when needed, and minimized to necessary information. Retention policies and consent management apply to svarfiler just as to other personal data.

Terminology varies by software ecosystem; some developers use 'response file' or 'answer log' instead of 'svarfiler'. The concept is not standardized, and formats, schemas, and conventions can differ between tools.

See also: response file, log file, audit trail, data format.