ted input functions or <em>scanners</em>.</p>

<p>The formatted input functions can read from any kind of input, including
    strings, files, or anything that can return characters. The more general
    source of characters is named a <em>formatted input channel</em> (or <em>    scanning buffer</em>) and has type <a href="Scanf.Scanning.html#TYPEin_channel"><code class="code"><span class="constructor">Scanf</span>.<span class="constructor">Scanning</span>.in_channel</code></a>. The more general
    formatt