diff --git a/src/jmh/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTCompare2Benchmark.java b/src/jmh/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTCompare2Benchmark.java
index 0a3327ea..bcc6770b 100644
--- a/src/jmh/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTCompare2Benchmark.java
+++ b/src/jmh/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTCompare2Benchmark.java
@@ -57,10 +57,14 @@ public class JRTCompare2Benchmark {
 	private Object stringLeft;
 	private Object stringRightEqual;
 	private Object stringRightGreater;
-	private Object numericStringLeft;
-	private Object numericStringRightEqual;
-	private Object numericStringRightGreater;
+	private Object plainNumericStringLeft;
+	private Object plainNumericStringRightEqual;
+	private Object plainNumericStringRightGreater;
 	private Object nonNumericString;
+	private Object strNumLeft;
+	private Object strNumRightEqual;
+	private Object strNumRightGreater;
+	private Object nonNumericStrNum;
 
 	/**
 	 * Initializes benchmark operands as mutable state fields so the benchmark body
@@ -78,10 +82,14 @@ public void setup() {
 		this.stringLeft = "alpha";
 		this.stringRightEqual = "alpha";
 		this.stringRightGreater = "bravo";
-		this.numericStringLeft = "123";
-		this.numericStringRightEqual = "123.0";
-		this.numericStringRightGreater = "456";
+		this.plainNumericStringLeft = "123";
+		this.plainNumericStringRightEqual = "123.0";
+		this.plainNumericStringRightGreater = "456";
 		this.nonNumericString = "2x";
+		this.strNumLeft = new StrNum("123");
+		this.strNumRightEqual = new StrNum("123.0");
+		this.strNumRightGreater = new StrNum("456");
+		this.nonNumericStrNum = new StrNum("2x");
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -155,33 +163,66 @@ public boolean stringLessThan() {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Measures equality for two numeric string operands.
+	 * Measures equality for two plain numeric-looking {@link String} operands.
 	 *
 	 * @return the comparison result
 	 */
 	@Benchmark
-	public boolean numericStringEquals() {
-		return JRT.compare2(this.numericStringLeft, this.numericStringRightEqual, 0);
+	public boolean plainNumericStringEquals() {
+		return JRT.compare2(this.plainNumericStringLeft, this.plainNumericStringRightEqual, 0);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Measures less-than comparison for two numeric string operands.
+	 * Measures less-than comparison for two plain numeric-looking {@link String}
+	 * operands.
 	 *
 	 * @return the comparison result
 	 */
 	@Benchmark
-	public boolean numericStringLessThan() {
-		return JRT.compare2(this.numericStringLeft, this.numericStringRightGreater, -1);
+	public boolean plainNumericStringLessThan() {
+		return JRT.compare2(this.plainNumericStringLeft, this.plainNumericStringRightGreater, -1);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Measures equality for a boxed {@link Long} and a numeric string operand.
+	 * Measures equality for a boxed {@link Long} and a plain numeric-looking
+	 * {@link String} operand.
 	 *
 	 * @return the comparison result
 	 */
 	@Benchmark
-	public boolean mixedLongNumericStringEquals() {
-		return JRT.compare2(this.longLeft, this.numericStringRightEqual, 0);
+	public boolean mixedLongPlainNumericStringEquals() {
+		return JRT.compare2(this.longLeft, this.plainNumericStringRightEqual, 0);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Measures equality for two input-derived numeric string operands.
+	 *
+	 * @return the comparison result
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public boolean strNumEquals() {
+		return JRT.compare2(this.strNumLeft, this.strNumRightEqual, 0);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Measures less-than comparison for two input-derived numeric string operands.
+	 *
+	 * @return the comparison result
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public boolean strNumLessThan() {
+		return JRT.compare2(this.strNumLeft, this.strNumRightGreater, -1);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Measures equality for a boxed {@link Long} and an input-derived numeric
+	 * string operand.
+	 *
+	 * @return the comparison result
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public boolean mixedLongStrNumEquals() {
+		return JRT.compare2(this.longLeft, this.strNumRightEqual, 0);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -194,4 +235,15 @@ public boolean mixedLongNumericStringEquals() {
 	public boolean mixedLongNonNumericStringLessThan() {
 		return JRT.compare2(this.longLeft, this.nonNumericString, -1);
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Measures fallback string comparison for a numeric operand and a nonnumeric
+	 * input-derived string.
+	 *
+	 * @return the comparison result
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public boolean mixedLongNonNumericStrNumLessThan() {
+		return JRT.compare2(this.longLeft, this.nonNumericStrNum, -1);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/jmh/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTHotPathBenchmark.java b/src/jmh/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTHotPathBenchmark.java
index 61d542bb..0c91696c 100644
--- a/src/jmh/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTHotPathBenchmark.java
+++ b/src/jmh/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTHotPathBenchmark.java
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ public class JRTHotPathBenchmark {
 	private Object zeroLong;
 	private Object zeroDouble;
 	private Object zeroString;
+	private Object zeroStrNum;
+	private Object nonZeroStrNum;
+	private Object nonNumericStrNum;
 	private Object uninitialized;
 	private double integralDouble;
 	private double fractionalDouble;
@@ -87,6 +90,9 @@ public void setup() {
 		this.zeroLong = Long.valueOf(0L);
 		this.zeroDouble = Double.valueOf(0.0D);
 		this.zeroString = "0";
+		this.zeroStrNum = new StrNum("0");
+		this.nonZeroStrNum = new StrNum("123");
+		this.nonNumericStrNum = new StrNum("2x");
 		this.uninitialized = new UninitializedObject();
 		this.integralDouble = 123456789D;
 		this.fractionalDouble = 123456.75D;
@@ -166,6 +172,28 @@ public double toDoubleNonNumericString() {
 		return JRT.toDouble(this.nonNumericString);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Measures {@link JRT#toDouble(Object)} for an input-derived fully numeric
+	 * string.
+	 *
+	 * @return converted value
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public double toDoubleStrNumNumeric() {
+		return JRT.toDouble(this.nonZeroStrNum);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Measures {@link JRT#toDouble(Object)} for an input-derived numeric-prefix
+	 * string.
+	 *
+	 * @return converted value
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public double toDoubleStrNumNumericPrefix() {
+		return JRT.toDouble(this.nonNumericStrNum);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Measures {@link JRT#toDouble(Object)} for an empty string.
 	 *
@@ -336,6 +364,37 @@ public boolean toBooleanStringZero() {
 		return this.jrt.toBoolean(this.zeroString);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Measures {@link JRT#toBoolean(Object)} for an input-derived zero string.
+	 *
+	 * @return converted value
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public boolean toBooleanStrNumZero() {
+		return this.jrt.toBoolean(this.zeroStrNum);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Measures {@link JRT#toBoolean(Object)} for an input-derived non-zero string.
+	 *
+	 * @return converted value
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public boolean toBooleanStrNumNonZero() {
+		return this.jrt.toBoolean(this.nonZeroStrNum);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Measures {@link JRT#toBoolean(Object)} for an input-derived nonnumeric
+	 * string.
+	 *
+	 * @return converted value
+	 */
+	@Benchmark
+	public boolean toBooleanStrNumNonNumeric() {
+		return this.jrt.toBoolean(this.nonNumericStrNum);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Measures {@link JRT#toBoolean(Object)} for an uninitialized runtime value.
 	 *
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/jawk/Cli.java b/src/main/java/io/jawk/Cli.java
index e186f884..8c6f8a25 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/jawk/Cli.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/jawk/Cli.java
@@ -382,17 +382,7 @@ private static void addVariable(AwkSettings settings, String keyValue) {
 		}
 		String name = m.group(1);
 		String valueString = m.group(2);
-		Object value;
-		try {
-			value = Integer.parseInt(valueString);
-		} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-			try {
-				value = Double.parseDouble(valueString);
-			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe2) {
-				value = valueString;
-			}
-		}
-		settings.putVariable(name, value);
+		settings.putVariable(name, valueString);
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/jawk/backend/AVM.java b/src/main/java/io/jawk/backend/AVM.java
index 9897f387..0479568f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/jawk/backend/AVM.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/jawk/backend/AVM.java
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ public Object eval(AwkExpression expression) throws IOException {
 			exitCode = 0;
 			throw new IllegalStateException("eval(AwkExpression) cannot execute EXIT opcodes.", e);
 		}
-		return operandStack.isEmpty() ? null : pop();
+		return operandStack.isEmpty() ? null : JRT.toJavaScalar(pop());
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ private void applyExecutionInitialVariablesToGlobalSlots(boolean skipPersistentE
 			Integer offsetObj = globalVariableOffsets.get(key);
 			Boolean arrayObj = globalVariableArrays.get(key);
 			if (offsetObj != null) {
-				Object obj = normalizeVariableValue(entry.getValue());
+				Object obj = normalizeExternalVariableValue(entry.getValue());
 				if (arrayObj.booleanValue()) {
 					if (obj instanceof Map) {
 						runtimeStack.setFilelistVariable(offsetObj.intValue(), obj);
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ private Map<String, Object> collectBasePersistentGlobalSeeds() {
 			String name = entry.getKey();
 			if (isPersistentEligibleGlobal(name)) {
 				validateSeededGlobalName(name);
-				Object value = normalizeVariableValue(entry.getValue());
+				Object value = normalizeExternalVariableValue(entry.getValue());
 				validateSeededGlobalValue(name, value);
 				basePersistentSeeds.put(name, value);
 			}
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ private Map<String, Object> collectExecutionUserGlobalSeeds(Map<String, Object>
 				String name = entry.getKey();
 				if (isPersistentEligibleGlobal(name)) {
 					validateSeededGlobalName(name);
-					Object value = normalizeVariableValue(entry.getValue());
+					Object value = normalizeExternalVariableValue(entry.getValue());
 					validateSeededGlobalValue(name, value);
 					executionUserSeeds.put(name, value);
 				}
@@ -986,26 +986,7 @@ private NameValueAssignment parseNameValueAssignment(String nameValue) {
 		}
 		String name = nameValue.substring(0, eqIdx);
 		String value = nameValue.substring(eqIdx + 1);
-		return new NameValueAssignment(name, coerceVariableAssignmentValue(value));
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Coerces a runtime assignment value using the same scalar rules as the
-	 * existing command-line handling: integer first, then double, then string.
-	 *
-	 * @param value raw text to coerce
-	 * @return coerced scalar value
-	 */
-	private Object coerceVariableAssignmentValue(String value) {
-		try {
-			return Integer.parseInt(value);
-		} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-			try {
-				return Double.parseDouble(value);
-			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe2) {
-				return value;
-			}
-		}
+		return new NameValueAssignment(name, jrt.toInputScalar(value));
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1164,22 +1145,14 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					// stack[0] = item to numerically negate
 
 					double d = JRT.toDouble(pop());
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(d)) {
-						push((long) -Math.rint(d));
-					} else {
-						push(-d);
-					}
+					push(-d);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
 				case UNARY_PLUS: {
 					// stack[0] = item to convert to a number
 					double d = JRT.toDouble(pop());
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(d)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(d));
-					} else {
-						push(d);
-					}
+					push(d);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1296,11 +1269,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 						throw new Error("Invalid op code here: " + opcode);
 					}
 
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(newVal)) {
-						assignArray(offset, arrIdx, (long) Math.rint(newVal), isGlobal);
-					} else {
-						assignArray(offset, arrIdx, newVal, isGlobal);
-					}
+					assignArray(offset, arrIdx, newVal, isGlobal);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1349,18 +1318,14 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 						throw new Error("Invalid op code here: " + opcode);
 					}
 
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(newVal)) {
-						assignMapElement(array, arrIdx, (long) Math.rint(newVal));
-					} else {
-						assignMapElement(array, arrIdx, newVal);
-					}
+					assignMapElement(array, arrIdx, newVal);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
 
 				case ASSIGN_AS_INPUT: {
 					// stack[0] = value
-					jrt.assignInputLineFromGetline(pop());
+					jrt.setInputLine(pop());
 					push(jrt.getInputLine());
 					position.next();
 					break;
@@ -1371,7 +1336,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					// stack[1] = value
 					Object fieldNumObj = pop();
 					long fieldNum = JRT.parseFieldNumber(fieldNumObj);
-					String value = pop().toString();
+					Object value = pop();
 					push(value); // leave the result on the stack
 					if (fieldNum == 0) {
 						jrt.setInputLine(value);
@@ -1424,14 +1389,8 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					default:
 						throw new Error("Invalid opcode here: " + opcode);
 					}
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						long integral = (long) Math.rint(ans);
-						push(integral);
-						runtimeStack.setVariable(offset, integral, isGlobal);
-					} else {
-						push(ans);
-						runtimeStack.setVariable(offset, ans, isGlobal);
-					}
+					push(ans);
+					runtimeStack.setVariable(offset, ans, isGlobal);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1526,11 +1485,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					checkScalar(key);
 					Object o = aa.get(key);
 					double ans = JRT.toDouble(o) + 1;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						aa.put(key, (long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						aa.put(key, ans);
-					}
+					aa.put(key, ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1545,11 +1500,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					checkScalar(key);
 					Object o = aa.get(key);
 					double ans = JRT.toDouble(o) - 1;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						aa.put(key, (long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						aa.put(key, ans);
-					}
+					aa.put(key, ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1561,11 +1512,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					Map<Object, Object> aa = toMap(pop());
 					Object o = aa.get(key);
 					double ans = JRT.toDouble(o) + 1;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						aa.put(key, (long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						aa.put(key, ans);
-					}
+					aa.put(key, ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1577,11 +1524,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					Map<Object, Object> aa = toMap(pop());
 					Object o = aa.get(key);
 					double ans = JRT.toDouble(o) - 1;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						aa.put(key, (long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						aa.put(key, ans);
-					}
+					aa.put(key, ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1594,11 +1537,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					double num = original + 1;
 					setNumOnJRT(fieldnum, num);
 
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(original)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(original));
-					} else {
-						push(Double.valueOf(original));
-					}
+					push(Double.valueOf(original));
 
 					position.next();
 					break;
@@ -1613,11 +1552,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					double num = original - 1;
 					setNumOnJRT(fieldnum, num);
 
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(original)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(original));
-					} else {
-						push(Double.valueOf(original));
-					}
+					push(Double.valueOf(original));
 
 					position.next();
 					break;
@@ -1892,11 +1827,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					double d1 = JRT.toDouble(o1);
 					double d2 = JRT.toDouble(o2);
 					double ans = d1 + d2;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						push(ans);
-					}
+					push(ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1908,11 +1839,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					double d1 = JRT.toDouble(o1);
 					double d2 = JRT.toDouble(o2);
 					double ans = d1 - d2;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						push(ans);
-					}
+					push(ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1924,11 +1851,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					double d1 = JRT.toDouble(o1);
 					double d2 = JRT.toDouble(o2);
 					double ans = d1 * d2;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						push(ans);
-					}
+					push(ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1940,11 +1863,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					double d1 = JRT.toDouble(o1);
 					double d2 = JRT.toDouble(o2);
 					double ans = d1 / d2;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						push(ans);
-					}
+					push(ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1956,11 +1875,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					double d1 = JRT.toDouble(o1);
 					double d2 = JRT.toDouble(o2);
 					double ans = d1 % d2;
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						push(ans);
-					}
+					push(ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1972,11 +1887,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					double d1 = JRT.toDouble(o1);
 					double d2 = JRT.toDouble(o2);
 					double ans = Math.pow(d1, d2);
-					if (JRT.isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-						push((long) Math.rint(ans));
-					} else {
-						push(ans);
-					}
+					push(ans);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -2072,7 +1983,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 				}
 				case GETLINE_INPUT_TO_TARGET: {
 					applyInputSourceFilelistAssignmentsIfNeeded();
-					String input = jrt.consumeInputToTarget(resolvedInputSource);
+					Object input = jrt.consumeInputToTarget(resolvedInputSource);
 					if (input != null) {
 						push(1);
 						push(input);
@@ -2117,7 +2028,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					// set the initial variables
 					Map<String, String> env = System.getenv();
 					for (Map.Entry<String, String> var : env.entrySet()) {
-						assignArray(environOffset, var.getKey(), var.getValue(), true);
+						assignArray(environOffset, var.getKey(), jrt.toInputScalar(var.getValue()), true);
 						pop(); // clean up the stack after the assignment
 					}
 					position.next();
@@ -2144,7 +2055,7 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 					pop();
 					for (int i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 						// assignArray(argvOffset, i+1, arguments.get(i), true);
-						assignArray(argvOffset, i, arguments.get(i - 1), true);
+						assignArray(argvOffset, i, jrt.toInputScalar(arguments.get(i - 1)), true);
 						pop(); // clean up the stack after the assignment
 					}
 					position.next();
@@ -2537,8 +2448,8 @@ private void executeTuples(PositionTracker position)
 				}
 				case ASSIGN_FILENAME: {
 					Object v = pop();
-					jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(v == null ? "" : v.toString());
-					push(v == null ? "" : v.toString());
+					jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(v);
+					push(v == null ? "" : v);
 					position.next();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -2830,7 +2741,8 @@ private void execSplit(CountTuple tuple, PositionTracker position) {
 		assocArray.clear();
 		long cnt = 0;
 		while (tokenizer.hasMoreElements()) {
-			assocArray.put(++cnt, tokenizer.nextElement());
+			Object value = tokenizer.nextElement();
+			assocArray.put(++cnt, jrt.toInputScalar(value));
 		}
 		push(cnt);
 	}
@@ -3020,16 +2932,11 @@ private String sprintfFunction(long numArgs) {
 	}
 
 	private void setNumOnJRT(long fieldNum, double num) {
-		String numString;
-		if (JRT.isActuallyLong(num)) {
-			numString = Long.toString((long) Math.rint(num));
-		} else {
-			numString = Double.toString(num);
-		}
+		String numString = jrt.toAwkString(Double.valueOf(num));
 
 		// same code as ASSIGN_AS_INPUT_FIELD
 		if (fieldNum == 0) {
-			jrt.setInputLine(numString.toString());
+			jrt.setInputLine(numString);
 			jrt.jrtParseFields();
 		} else {
 			jrt.jrtSetInputField(numString, fieldNum);
@@ -3190,7 +3097,7 @@ public final void assignVariable(String name, Object obj) {
 		// When offsets are not available yet, treat the assignment as part of this
 		// AVM's baseline initial-variable snapshot.
 		if (globalVariableOffsets == null || globalVariableArrays == null) {
-			Object normalized = normalizeVariableValue(obj);
+			Object normalized = normalizeExternalVariableValue(obj);
 			baseInitialVariables.put(name, normalized);
 			if (JRT.isJrtManagedSpecialVariable(name)) {
 				baseSpecialVariables.put(name, normalized);
@@ -3207,7 +3114,7 @@ public final void assignVariable(String name, Object obj) {
 		Boolean arrayObj = globalVariableArrays.get(name);
 
 		if (offsetObj != null) {
-			Object normalized = normalizeVariableValue(obj);
+			Object normalized = normalizeExternalVariableValue(obj);
 			if (arrayObj.booleanValue()) {
 				if (normalized instanceof Map) {
 					runtimeStack.setFilelistVariable(offsetObj.intValue(), normalized);
@@ -3219,7 +3126,7 @@ public final void assignVariable(String name, Object obj) {
 				runtimeStack.setFilelistVariable(offsetObj.intValue(), normalized);
 			}
 		} else if (runtimeStack.hasGlobalVariable(name)) {
-			Object normalized = normalizeVariableValue(obj);
+			Object normalized = normalizeExternalVariableValue(obj);
 			runtimeStack.setGlobalVariable(name, normalized);
 		}
 	}
@@ -3277,7 +3184,7 @@ public void setNF(Integer newNf) {
 	/** {@inheritDoc} */
 	@Override
 	public void setFILENAME(String filename) {
-		jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(filename);
+		jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(jrt.toInputScalar(filename));
 	}
 
 	/** {@inheritDoc} */
@@ -3287,7 +3194,7 @@ public Object getARGV() {
 			Map<Object, Object> argv = newAwkArray();
 			argv.put(0L, "jawk");
 			for (int i = 0; i < arguments.size(); i++) {
-				argv.put(Long.valueOf(i + 1L), arguments.get(i));
+				argv.put(Long.valueOf(i + 1L), jrt.toInputScalar(arguments.get(i)));
 			}
 			return argv;
 		}
@@ -3384,7 +3291,13 @@ private Map<Object, Object> ensureArrayInArray(Map<Object, Object> map, Object k
 		return nested;
 	}
 
-	private Object normalizeVariableValue(Object value) {
+	private Object normalizeExternalVariableValue(Object value) {
+		if (value instanceof String) {
+			return jrt.toInputScalar(value);
+		}
+		if (!(value instanceof Map) && !(value instanceof List)) {
+			return value;
+		}
 		return AssocArray.normalizeValue(value, sortedArrayKeys);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/jawk/ext/StdinExtension.java b/src/main/java/io/jawk/ext/StdinExtension.java
index b6f2a7f5..b1ef2b60 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/jawk/ext/StdinExtension.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/jawk/ext/StdinExtension.java
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ private Object stdInGetLine() {
 				isEof = true;
 				return 0;
 			}
-			getJrt().setInputLine((String) lineObj);
+			getJrt().setInputLine(getJrt().toInputScalar((String) lineObj));
 			getJrt().jrtParseFields();
 			return 1;
 		} catch (InterruptedException ie) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/AssocArray.java b/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/AssocArray.java
index 78ec158e..1f123acb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/AssocArray.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/AssocArray.java
@@ -69,13 +69,26 @@ public interface AssocArray extends Map<Object, Object> {
 
 	/**
 	 * Converts a key to the canonical form expected by AWK: {@code null} and
-	 * {@link UninitializedObject} map to the empty string.
+	 * {@link UninitializedObject} map to the empty string, and internal input
+	 * strings map to their string value.
 	 *
 	 * @param key the raw key
 	 * @return the normalized key, never {@code null}
 	 */
 	static Object normalizeKey(Object key) {
-		return (key == null || key instanceof UninitializedObject) ? "" : key;
+		if (key == null || key instanceof UninitializedObject) {
+			return "";
+		}
+		if (key instanceof StrNum) {
+			return key.toString();
+		}
+		if (key instanceof Double || key instanceof Float) {
+			double numericKey = ((Number) key).doubleValue();
+			if (JRT.isActuallyLong(numericKey)) {
+				return Long.valueOf((long) Math.rint(numericKey));
+			}
+		}
+		return key;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -109,11 +122,7 @@ static Long toLongKey(Object key) {
 	 * @return {@code true} if the key (or its numeric equivalent) is present
 	 */
 	default boolean isIn(Object key) {
-		if (key == null || key instanceof UninitializedObject) {
-// According to AWK semantics, an uninitialized index
-// evaluates to the empty string, not numeric zero
-			key = "";
-		}
+		key = normalizeKey(key);
 		if (containsKey(key)) {
 			return true;
 		}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRT.java b/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRT.java
index 90980e33..8ad1b025 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRT.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRT.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 import java.io.InputStreamReader;
 import java.io.PrintStream;
 import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
+import java.text.DecimalFormatSymbols;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.Enumeration;
@@ -42,7 +43,6 @@
 import java.util.StringTokenizer;
 import java.util.regex.Matcher;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
-import java.math.BigDecimal;
 import io.jawk.Awk;
 import io.jawk.intermediate.UninitializedObject;
 import edu.umd.cs.findbugs.annotations.SuppressFBWarnings;
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public class JRT {
 	/** PrintStream used for command error output */
 	private PrintStream error;
 	// Last input line consumed for getline-style transport.
-	private String inputLine = null;
+	private Object inputLine = null;
 	// Current record state ($0, $1, $2, ...).
 	private RecordState recordState;
 	// The currently active InputSource (set during consumeInput calls).
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public class JRT {
 	private long fnr; // file record number
 	private int rstart; // last match start (1-based)
 	private int rlength; // last match length
-	private String filename; // current input filename (or empty for stdin/pipe)
+	private Object filename; // current input filename scalar (or empty for stdin/pipe)
 	private String fs; // field separator
 	private String rs; // record separator (regexp)
 	private String ofs; // output field separator
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ public class JRT {
 	private String ofmt; // number-to-string for output
 	private String subsep; // subscript separator
 	private final Locale locale; // locale for number formatting
+	private final char decimalSeparator; // locale decimal separator for strnum recognition
 
 	private static final class FileOutputState {
 
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ private static final class IoState {
 	public JRT(VariableManager vm, Locale locale, AwkSink awkSink, PrintStream error) {
 		this.vm = vm;
 		this.locale = locale == null ? Locale.US : locale;
+		this.decimalSeparator = DecimalFormatSymbols.getInstance(this.locale).getDecimalSeparator();
 		this.awkSink = Objects.requireNonNull(awkSink, "awkSink");
 		this.error = error == null ? System.err : error;
 		this.nr = 0L;
@@ -371,7 +373,7 @@ public final void assignInitialVariables(Map<String, Object> initialVarMap) {
 				continue;
 			}
 			if ("FILENAME".equals(name)) {
-				setFILENAMEViaJrt(value == null ? "" : value.toString());
+				setFILENAMEViaJrt(value);
 				continue;
 			}
 			if ("NF".equals(name)) {
@@ -425,7 +427,7 @@ public final void applySpecialVariables(Map<String, Object> variableMap) {
 			} else if ("SUBSEP".equals(name)) {
 				setSUBSEP(value);
 			} else if ("FILENAME".equals(name)) {
-				setFILENAMEViaJrt(value == null ? "" : value.toString());
+				setFILENAMEViaJrt(value);
 			} else if ("NF".equals(name)) {
 				setNF(value);
 			} else if ("NR".equals(name)) {
@@ -452,7 +454,7 @@ public final void applySpecialVariables(Map<String, Object> variableMap) {
 	public static void assignEnvironmentVariables(AssocArray aa) {
 		Map<String, String> env = System.getenv();
 		for (Map.Entry<String, String> var : env.entrySet()) {
-			aa.put(var.getKey(), var.getValue());
+			aa.put(var.getKey(), new StrNum(var.getValue()));
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -532,6 +534,13 @@ public static double toDouble(final Object o) {
 			return (double) ((Character) o).charValue();
 		}
 
+		if (o instanceof StrNum) {
+			StrNum strNum = (StrNum) o;
+			if (strNum.isNumber()) {
+				return strNum.doubleValue();
+			}
+		}
+
 		// Try to convert the string to a number.
 		String s = o.toString();
 		int length = s.length();
@@ -646,89 +655,95 @@ public static long parseFieldNumber(Object obj) {
 	 * @return a boolean
 	 */
 	public static boolean compare2(Object o1, Object o2, int mode) {
-		boolean o1Numeric = o1 instanceof Number;
-		boolean o2Numeric = o2 instanceof Number;
-		double o1Number;
-		double o2Number;
-
-		if (o1Numeric && o2Numeric) {
-			o1Number = ((Number) o1).doubleValue();
-			o2Number = ((Number) o2).doubleValue();
-			if (mode < 0) {
-				return o1Number < o2Number;
-			} else if (mode == 0) {
-				return o1Number == o2Number;
-			} else {
-				return o1Number > o2Number;
-			}
+		if (o1 instanceof Number && o2 instanceof Number) {
+			return compareNumbers(((Number) o1).doubleValue(), ((Number) o2).doubleValue(), mode);
 		}
-		String o1String = o1.toString();
-		String o2String = o2.toString();
+
+		String o1String = o1 == null ? "" : o1.toString();
+		String o2String = o2 == null ? "" : o2.toString();
 
 		if (o1 instanceof UninitializedObject) {
-			if (o2 instanceof UninitializedObject || "".equals(o2String) || "0".equals(o2String)) {
+			if (isBlankOrZero(o2, o2String)) {
 				return mode == 0;
 			} else {
 				return mode < 0;
 			}
 		}
 		if (o2 instanceof UninitializedObject) {
-			if ("".equals(o1String) || "0".equals(o1String)) {
+			if (isBlankOrZero(o1, o1String)) {
 				return mode == 0;
 			} else {
 				return mode > 0;
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (o1String.equals(o2String)) {
-			return mode == 0;
+		if (isNumericComparisonOperand(o1) && isNumericComparisonOperand(o2)) {
+			return compareNumbers(getDoubleForComparison(o1), getDoubleForComparison(o2), mode);
 		}
 
-		if (o1Numeric) {
-			o1Number = ((Number) o1).doubleValue();
-		} else if (isComparisonNumber(o1String)) {
-			try {
-				o1Number = new BigDecimal(o1String).doubleValue();
-				o1Numeric = true;
-			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) { // NOPMD - ignore invalid number
-				o1Number = 0.0;
-			}
+		if (mode == 0) {
+			return o1String.equals(o2String);
+		} else if (mode < 0) {
+			return o1String.compareTo(o2String) < 0;
 		} else {
-			o1Number = 0.0;
+			return o1String.compareTo(o2String) > 0;
 		}
-		if (o2Numeric) {
-			o2Number = ((Number) o2).doubleValue();
-		} else if (isComparisonNumber(o2String)) {
-			try {
-				o2Number = new BigDecimal(o2String).doubleValue();
-				o2Numeric = true;
-			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) { // NOPMD - ignore invalid number
-				o2Number = 0.0;
-			}
-		} else {
-			o2Number = 0.0;
+	}
+
+	private static boolean isBlankOrZero(Object value, String stringValue) {
+		if (value instanceof UninitializedObject) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		if (value instanceof Number) {
+			return ((Number) value).doubleValue() == 0.0D;
+		}
+		if (value instanceof StrNum && ((StrNum) value).isNumber()) {
+			return ((StrNum) value).doubleValue() == 0.0D;
 		}
+		return "".equals(stringValue) || "0".equals(stringValue);
+	}
 
-		if (o1Numeric && o2Numeric) {
-			if (mode < 0) {
-				return o1Number < o2Number;
-			} else if (mode == 0) {
-				return o1Number == o2Number;
-			} else {
-				return o1Number > o2Number;
-			}
+	private static boolean isNumericComparisonOperand(Object value) {
+		return value instanceof Number || value instanceof StrNum && ((StrNum) value).isNumber();
+	}
+
+	private static double getDoubleForComparison(Object value) {
+		if (value instanceof Number) {
+			return ((Number) value).doubleValue();
 		}
+		return ((StrNum) value).doubleValue();
+	}
 
-		if (mode == 0) {
-			return o1String.equals(o2String);
-		} else if (mode < 0) {
-			return o1String.compareTo(o2String) < 0;
+	private static boolean compareNumbers(double o1Number, double o2Number, int mode) {
+		if (mode < 0) {
+			return o1Number < o2Number;
+		} else if (mode == 0) {
+			return o1Number == o2Number;
 		} else {
-			return o1String.compareTo(o2String) > 0;
+			return o1Number > o2Number;
 		}
 	}
 
-	static boolean isComparisonNumber(String value) {
+	/**
+	 * Converts an internal runtime scalar to the value exposed through Java APIs.
+	 *
+	 * @param value internal scalar value
+	 * @return plain Java scalar value
+	 */
+	public static Object toJavaScalar(Object value) {
+		if (value instanceof StrNum) {
+			return value.toString();
+		}
+		if (value instanceof Double || value instanceof Float) {
+			double number = ((Number) value).doubleValue();
+			if (isActuallyLong(number)) {
+				return Long.valueOf((long) Math.rint(number));
+			}
+		}
+		return value;
+	}
+
+	static boolean isParseableNumber(String value, char decimalSeparator) {
 		int index = 0;
 		int length = value.length();
 
@@ -750,7 +765,7 @@ static boolean isComparisonNumber(String value) {
 			digitFound = true;
 		}
 
-		if (index < length && value.charAt(index) == '.') {
+		if (index < length && value.charAt(index) == decimalSeparator) {
 			index++;
 			while (index < length && value.charAt(index) >= '0' && value.charAt(index) <= '9') {
 				index++;
@@ -781,36 +796,23 @@ static boolean isComparisonNumber(String value) {
 		return index == length;
 	}
 
+	static String normalizeNumberForComparison(String value, char decimalSeparator) {
+		return decimalSeparator == '.' ? value : value.replace(decimalSeparator, '.');
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Return an object which is numerically equivalent to
 	 * one plus a given object. For Integers and Doubles,
 	 * this is similar to o+1. For Strings, attempts are
 	 * made to convert it to a double first. If the
-	 * String does not represent a valid Double, 1 is returned.
+	 * String does not contain a numeric prefix, 1 is returned.
 	 *
 	 * @param o The object to increase.
-	 * @return o+1 if o is an Integer or Double object, or
-	 *         if o is a String object and represents a double.
-	 *         Otherwise, 1 is returned. If the return value
-	 *         is an integer, an Integer object is returned.
-	 *         Otherwise, a Double object is returned.
+	 * @return {@code o + 1} if o is numeric or contains a numeric prefix;
+	 *         otherwise, {@code 1.0}
 	 */
 	public static Object inc(Object o) {
-		double ans;
-		if (o instanceof Number) {
-			ans = ((Number) o).doubleValue() + 1;
-		} else {
-			try {
-				ans = Double.parseDouble(o.toString()) + 1;
-			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-				ans = 1;
-			}
-		}
-		if (isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-			return (long) Math.rint(ans);
-		} else {
-			return ans;
-		}
+		return toDouble(o) + 1;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -818,31 +820,14 @@ public static Object inc(Object o) {
 	 * one minus a given object. For Integers and Doubles,
 	 * this is similar to o-1. For Strings, attempts are
 	 * made to convert it to a double first. If the
-	 * String does not represent a valid Double, -1 is returned.
+	 * String does not contain a numeric prefix, -1 is returned.
 	 *
 	 * @param o The object to increase.
-	 * @return o-1 if o is an Integer or Double object, or
-	 *         if o is a String object and represents a double.
-	 *         Otherwise, -1 is returned. If the return value
-	 *         is an integer, an Integer object is returned.
-	 *         Otherwise, a Double object is returned.
+	 * @return {@code o - 1} if o is numeric or contains a numeric prefix;
+	 *         otherwise, {@code -1.0}
 	 */
 	public static Object dec(Object o) {
-		double ans;
-		if (o instanceof Number) {
-			ans = ((Number) o).doubleValue() - 1;
-		} else {
-			try {
-				ans = Double.parseDouble(o.toString()) - 1;
-			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-				ans = 1;
-			}
-		}
-		if (isActuallyLong(ans)) {
-			return (long) Math.rint(ans);
-		} else {
-			return ans;
-		}
+		return toDouble(o) - 1;
 	}
 
 	// non-static to reference "inputLine"
@@ -870,6 +855,9 @@ public final boolean toBoolean(Object o) {
 			val = ((Long) o).longValue() != 0;
 		} else if (o instanceof Double) {
 			val = ((Double) o).doubleValue() != 0;
+		} else if (o instanceof StrNum) {
+			StrNum strNum = (StrNum) o;
+			val = strNum.isNumber() ? strNum.doubleValue() != 0 : strNum.toString().length() > 0;
 		} else if (o instanceof String) {
 			val = (o.toString().length() > 0);
 		} else if (o instanceof UninitializedObject) {
@@ -937,11 +925,12 @@ private static Map<Object, Object> toArrayMap(Object array) {
 		return arrayMap;
 	}
 
-	private static int splitWorker(Enumeration<Object> e, Map<Object, Object> array) {
+	private int splitWorker(Enumeration<Object> e, Map<Object, Object> array) {
 		int cnt = 0;
 		array.clear();
 		while (e.hasMoreElements()) {
-			array.put(Long.valueOf(++cnt), e.nextElement());
+			Object value = e.nextElement();
+			array.put(Long.valueOf(++cnt), toInputScalar(value));
 		}
 		array.put(0L, Long.valueOf(cnt));
 		return cnt;
@@ -966,16 +955,13 @@ public PartitioningReader getPartitioningReader() {
 	 * Getter for the field <code>inputLine</code>.
 	 * </p>
 	 *
-	 * @return a {@link java.lang.String} object
+	 * @return the current input line scalar value, or {@code null}
 	 */
-	public String getInputLine() {
-		if (inputLine != null) {
-			return inputLine;
-		}
-		if (recordState == null) {
-			return null;
+	public Object getInputLine() {
+		if (recordState != null) {
+			return recordState.getField(0);
 		}
-		return recordState.getRecordText();
+		return inputLine;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1186,7 +1172,7 @@ public void setRLENGTH(Object value) {
 	 *
 	 * @return current FILENAME (empty string for stdin/pipe)
 	 */
-	public String getFILENAME() {
+	public Object getFILENAME() {
 		return filename == null ? "" : filename;
 	}
 
@@ -1195,8 +1181,8 @@ public String getFILENAME() {
 	 *
 	 * @param name file name to set
 	 */
-	public void setFILENAMEViaJrt(String name) {
-		this.filename = name == null ? "" : name;
+	public void setFILENAMEViaJrt(Object name) {
+		this.filename = normalizeRecordValue(name);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1294,22 +1280,38 @@ public void setARGC(Object value) {
 	 * Setter for the field <code>inputLine</code>.
 	 * </p>
 	 *
-	 * @param inputLine a {@link java.lang.String} object
+	 * @param inputLineParam input value
 	 */
-	public void setInputLine(String inputLine) {
-		this.inputLine = inputLine;
-		recordState = newRecordStateFromText(inputLine);
+	public void setInputLine(Object inputLineParam) {
+		Object inputValue = normalizeRecordValue(inputLineParam);
+		this.inputLine = inputValue;
+		recordState = new RecordState(inputValue, null);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Assigns {@code $0} from a getline result and initializes {@code $1..$NF}.
+	 * Creates an input-derived AWK scalar value.
 	 *
-	 * @param value getline result assigned to {@code $0}
+	 * @param value input text
+	 * @return input-derived scalar value
 	 */
-	public void assignInputLineFromGetline(Object value) {
-		String inputValue = value == null ? "" : value.toString();
-		inputLine = inputValue;
-		recordState = newRecordStateFromText(inputValue);
+	public Object toInputScalar(Object value) {
+		if (value instanceof String) {
+			return new StrNum((String) value, decimalSeparator);
+		}
+		if (value instanceof StrNum) {
+			return value;
+		}
+		if (value == null || value instanceof UninitializedObject) {
+			return new StrNum("", decimalSeparator);
+		}
+		return new StrNum(value.toString(), decimalSeparator);
+	}
+
+	private static Object normalizeRecordValue(Object value) {
+		if (value == null || value instanceof UninitializedObject) {
+			return "";
+		}
+		return value;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1330,7 +1332,7 @@ public boolean consumeInput(final InputSource source) throws IOException {
 		}
 
 		inputLine = null;
-		recordState = newRecordStateFromSource(source);
+		recordState = new RecordState(source);
 
 		this.nr++;
 		if (source.isFromFilenameList()) {
@@ -1341,16 +1343,16 @@ public boolean consumeInput(final InputSource source) throws IOException {
 
 	/**
 	 * Attempt to consume one record from a structured input source for
-	 * {@code getline target}, returning only the input text and leaving the
+	 * {@code getline target}, returning the input value and leaving the
 	 * current input record state untouched.
 	 *
 	 * @param source source strategy that provides records and optional
 	 *        pre-split fields
-	 * @return the consumed input text, or {@code null} when the source is
+	 * @return the consumed input value, or {@code null} when the source is
 	 *         exhausted
 	 * @throws IOException if the source raises an I/O error
 	 */
-	public String consumeInputToTarget(final InputSource source) throws IOException {
+	public Object consumeInputToTarget(final InputSource source) throws IOException {
 		Objects.requireNonNull(source, "source");
 		activeSource = source;
 		materializeCurrentRecord();
@@ -1358,12 +1360,12 @@ public String consumeInputToTarget(final InputSource source) throws IOException
 			return null;
 		}
 
-		String input = newRecordStateFromSource(source).getRecordText();
+		RecordState inputState = new RecordState(source);
 		this.nr++;
 		if (source.isFromFilenameList()) {
 			this.fnr++;
 		}
-		return input;
+		return new StrNum(inputState.getRecordText(), decimalSeparator);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1386,7 +1388,7 @@ public boolean consumeInputForEval(InputSource source) throws IOException {
 	 * @param preFields current fields where index {@code 0} is {@code $1}
 	 */
 	protected void initializeInputFields(String record, List<String> preFields) {
-		recordState = newRecordStateFromSource(record, preFields);
+		recordState = new RecordState(toInputScalar(record), preFields);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1473,7 +1475,7 @@ public String jrtSetInputField(Object valueObj, long fieldNum) {
 		if (fieldNum > Integer.MAX_VALUE) {
 			throw new AwkRuntimeException("Field $(" + Long.valueOf(fieldNum) + ") is incorrect.");
 		}
-		String value = valueObj.toString();
+		String value = valueObj == null ? "" : valueObj.toString();
 		int fieldIndex = (int) fieldNum;
 		RecordState state = ensureRecordStateForFieldMutation();
 		if (valueObj instanceof UninitializedObject) {
@@ -1484,7 +1486,7 @@ public String jrtSetInputField(Object valueObj, long fieldNum) {
 			while (state.getNF() < fieldIndex) {
 				state.addField("");
 			}
-			state.setField(fieldIndex - 1, value);
+			state.setField(fieldIndex - 1, valueObj);
 		}
 		state.markRecordTextDirty();
 		return value;
@@ -1493,7 +1495,7 @@ public String jrtSetInputField(Object valueObj, long fieldNum) {
 	protected void rebuildDollarZeroFromFields() {
 		if (recordState != null) {
 			recordState.markRecordTextDirty();
-			inputLine = recordState.getRecordText();
+			inputLine = recordState.getField(0);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1505,7 +1507,7 @@ private void materializeCurrentRecord() {
 
 	private RecordState ensureRecordStateForTextMutation() {
 		if (recordState == null) {
-			recordState = newRecordStateFromText(inputLine == null ? "" : inputLine);
+			recordState = new RecordState(inputLine, null);
 		}
 		return recordState;
 	}
@@ -1516,16 +1518,17 @@ private RecordState ensureRecordStateForFieldMutation() {
 		return state;
 	}
 
-	private static List<String> sanitizeFields(List<String> rawFields) {
-		List<String> copy = new ArrayList<String>(rawFields.size());
+	private List<Object> sanitizeFields(List<String> rawFields) {
+		List<Object> copy = new ArrayList<Object>(rawFields.size());
 		for (String field : rawFields) {
-			copy.add(field == null ? "" : field);
+			String value = field == null ? "" : field;
+			copy.add(new StrNum(value, decimalSeparator));
 		}
 		return copy;
 	}
 
-	private List<String> splitRecordText(String recordText, String fieldSeparator) {
-		List<String> fields = new ArrayList<String>();
+	private List<Object> splitRecordText(String recordText, String fieldSeparator) {
+		List<Object> fields = new ArrayList<Object>();
 		if (recordText == null || recordText.isEmpty()) {
 			return fields;
 		}
@@ -1542,44 +1545,34 @@ private List<String> splitRecordText(String recordText, String fieldSeparator) {
 		}
 
 		while (tokenizer.hasMoreElements()) {
-			fields.add((String) tokenizer.nextElement());
+			fields.add(new StrNum((String) tokenizer.nextElement(), decimalSeparator));
 		}
 		return fields;
 	}
 
-	private static String joinFieldsWithLiteralSeparator(List<String> fields, String separator) {
+	private static String joinFieldsWithLiteralSeparator(List<Object> fields, String separator) {
 		StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
 		for (int i = 0; i < fields.size(); i++) {
 			if (i > 0) {
 				sb.append(separator);
 			}
-			sb.append(fields.get(i));
+			Object field = fields.get(i);
+			sb.append(field == null ? "" : field.toString());
 		}
 		return sb.toString();
 	}
 
-	private String rebuildRecordTextFromFields(List<String> fields) {
+	private String rebuildRecordTextFromFields(List<Object> fields) {
 		return joinFieldsWithLiteralSeparator(fields, ofs);
 	}
 
-	private RecordState newRecordStateFromText(String recordText) {
-		return new RecordState(recordText, null);
-	}
-
-	private RecordState newRecordStateFromSource(InputSource source) {
-		return new RecordState(source);
-	}
-
-	private RecordState newRecordStateFromSource(String recordText, List<String> rawFields) {
-		return new RecordState(recordText, rawFields);
-	}
-
 	private final class RecordState {
 
 		private final String fieldSeparatorAtRead;
 		private final InputSource source;
 		private String recordText;
-		private List<String> fields;
+		private Object recordScalar;
+		private List<Object> fields;
 		private boolean recordTextAvailable;
 		private boolean fieldsAvailable;
 		private boolean recordTextDirty;
@@ -1591,17 +1584,19 @@ private RecordState(InputSource source) {
 			this(null, null, source);
 		}
 
-		private RecordState(String recordText, List<String> rawFields) {
-			this(recordText, rawFields, null);
+		private RecordState(Object recordValue, List<String> rawFields) {
+			this(recordValue, rawFields, null);
 		}
 
-		private RecordState(String recordText, List<String> rawFields, InputSource source) {
+		private RecordState(Object recordValue, List<String> rawFields, InputSource source) {
 			this.fieldSeparatorAtRead = fs;
 			this.source = source;
-			if (recordText != null) {
-				this.recordText = recordText;
+			if (recordValue != null) {
+				this.recordScalar = normalizeRecordValue(recordValue);
+				this.recordText = this.recordScalar.toString();
 				this.recordTextAvailable = true;
 			} else if (rawFields == null && source == null) {
+				this.recordScalar = "";
 				this.recordText = "";
 				this.recordTextAvailable = true;
 			}
@@ -1635,6 +1630,7 @@ private String getRecordText() {
 			if (!recordTextAvailable || recordTextDirty) {
 				if (recordTextDirty) {
 					recordText = rebuildRecordTextFromFields(fields);
+					recordScalar = recordText;
 				} else {
 					loadRecordTextFromSource();
 					if (!recordTextAvailable) {
@@ -1644,6 +1640,7 @@ private String getRecordText() {
 									"InputSource must provide record text, fields, or both after nextRecord()");
 						}
 						recordText = joinFieldsWithLiteralSeparator(fields, fieldSeparatorAtRead);
+						recordScalar = new StrNum(recordText, decimalSeparator);
 					}
 				}
 				recordTextAvailable = true;
@@ -1659,7 +1656,11 @@ private int getNF() {
 
 		private Object getField(int fieldIndex) {
 			if (fieldIndex == 0) {
-				return getRecordText();
+				String value = getRecordText();
+				if (recordScalar == null) {
+					recordScalar = value;
+				}
+				return recordScalar;
 			}
 			ensureFieldsMaterialized();
 			int zeroBasedIndex = fieldIndex - 1;
@@ -1669,18 +1670,25 @@ private Object getField(int fieldIndex) {
 			return fields.get(zeroBasedIndex);
 		}
 
-		private void setField(int zeroBasedIndex, String value) {
+		private void setField(int zeroBasedIndex, Object value) {
 			ensureFieldsMaterialized();
-			fields.set(zeroBasedIndex, value);
+			fields.set(zeroBasedIndex, normalizeFieldValue(value));
 			markRecordTextDirty();
 		}
 
-		private void addField(String value) {
+		private void addField(Object value) {
 			ensureFieldsMaterialized();
-			fields.add(value);
+			fields.add(normalizeFieldValue(value));
 			markRecordTextDirty();
 		}
 
+		private Object normalizeFieldValue(Object value) {
+			if (value == null || value instanceof UninitializedObject) {
+				return "";
+			}
+			return value;
+		}
+
 		private void removeField(int zeroBasedIndex) {
 			ensureFieldsMaterialized();
 			fields.remove(zeroBasedIndex);
@@ -1690,6 +1698,7 @@ private void removeField(int zeroBasedIndex) {
 		private void markRecordTextDirty() {
 			recordTextDirty = true;
 			recordTextAvailable = fieldsAvailable;
+			recordScalar = null;
 		}
 
 		private void materialize() {
@@ -1703,6 +1712,9 @@ private void loadRecordTextFromSource() {
 			}
 			recordText = source.getRecordText();
 			recordTextAvailable = recordText != null;
+			if (recordTextAvailable) {
+				recordScalar = new StrNum(recordText, decimalSeparator);
+			}
 			recordTextLoadedFromSource = true;
 		}
 
@@ -1921,11 +1933,13 @@ public boolean jrtConsumeFileInput(String fileNameParam) throws IOException {
 			}
 		}
 
-		inputLine = pr.readRecord();
-		if (inputLine == null) {
+		String recordText = pr.readRecord();
+		if (recordText == null) {
 			return false;
 		} else {
-			jrtInputString = inputLine;
+			jrtInputString = recordText;
+			inputLine = toInputScalar(recordText);
+			recordState = new RecordState(inputLine, null);
 			this.nr++;
 			return true;
 		}
@@ -1958,11 +1972,13 @@ private static Process spawnProcess(String cmd) throws IOException {
 	 */
 	public boolean jrtConsumeCommandInput(String cmd) throws IOException {
 		CommandInputState commandInput = getOrCreateCommandInputState(cmd);
-		inputLine = commandInput.reader.readRecord();
-		if (inputLine == null) {
+		String recordText = commandInput.reader.readRecord();
+		if (recordText == null) {
 			return false;
 		} else {
-			jrtInputString = inputLine;
+			jrtInputString = recordText;
+			inputLine = toInputScalar(recordText);
+			recordState = new RecordState(inputLine, null);
 			this.nr++;
 			return true;
 		}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/StrNum.java b/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/StrNum.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..40f38b44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/StrNum.java
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+package io.jawk.jrt;
+
+/*-
+ * ╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲
+ * Jawk
+ * ჻჻჻჻჻჻
+ * Copyright (C) 2006 - 2026 MetricsHub
+ * ჻჻჻჻჻჻
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Lesser Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Lesser Public
+ * License along with this program.  If not, see
+ * <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.html>.
+ * ╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱
+ */
+
+import java.math.BigDecimal;
+
+final class StrNum {
+
+	private final String value;
+	private final char decimalSeparator;
+	private Boolean numeric;
+	private Double numericValue;
+
+	StrNum(String value) {
+		this(value, '.');
+	}
+
+	StrNum(String value, char decimalSeparator) {
+		this.value = value == null ? "" : value;
+		this.decimalSeparator = decimalSeparator;
+	}
+
+	boolean isNumber() {
+		if (numeric == null) {
+			numeric = Boolean.valueOf(JRT.isParseableNumber(value, decimalSeparator));
+		}
+		return numeric.booleanValue();
+	}
+
+	double doubleValue() {
+		if (numericValue == null) {
+			numericValue = Double.valueOf(parseDoubleValue());
+		}
+		return numericValue.doubleValue();
+	}
+
+	private double parseDoubleValue() {
+		String normalizedValue = JRT.normalizeNumberForComparison(value, decimalSeparator);
+		try {
+			return Double.parseDouble(normalizedValue);
+		} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
+			return new BigDecimal(normalizedValue).doubleValue();
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public String toString() {
+		return value;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/StreamInputSource.java b/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/StreamInputSource.java
index 4df4a585..bb0366f9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/StreamInputSource.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/jawk/jrt/StreamInputSource.java
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ private boolean detectFilenames() {
 	 * @return {@code ARGC} converted to an {@code int}
 	 */
 	private int getArgCount() {
-		long raw = JRT.toLong(vm.getARGC());
+		double raw = JRT.toDouble(vm.getARGC());
 		if (raw <= 0) {
 			return 0;
 		}
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ private boolean prepareNextReader() throws IOException {
 					partitioningReader = new PartitioningReader(
 							new InputStreamReader(defaultInput, StandardCharsets.UTF_8),
 							jrt.getRSString());
-					jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt("");
+					jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(jrt.toInputScalar(""));
 					return true;
 				}
 				closeCurrentReaderIfFileStream();
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ private boolean prepareNextReader() throws IOException {
 					partitioningReader = new PartitioningReader(
 							new InputStreamReader(defaultInput, StandardCharsets.UTF_8),
 							jrt.getRSString());
-					jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt("");
+					jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(jrt.toInputScalar(""));
 					return true;
 				}
 				if (partitioningReader != null) {
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ private boolean prepareNextReader() throws IOException {
 						new InputStreamReader(new FileInputStream(arg), StandardCharsets.UTF_8),
 						jrt.getRSString(),
 						true);
-				jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(arg);
+				jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(jrt.toInputScalar(arg));
 				jrt.setFNR(0L);
 				ready = true;
 			}
@@ -404,16 +404,6 @@ private void setFilelistVariable(String nameValue) {
 		}
 		String name = nameValue.substring(0, eqIdx);
 		String value = nameValue.substring(eqIdx + 1);
-		Object obj;
-		try {
-			obj = Integer.parseInt(value);
-		} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-			try {
-				obj = Double.parseDouble(value);
-			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe2) {
-				obj = value;
-			}
-		}
-		vm.assignVariable(name, obj);
+		vm.assignVariable(name, jrt.toInputScalar(value));
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/jawk/util/AwkSettings.java b/src/main/java/io/jawk/util/AwkSettings.java
index 9d25fb2e..442df6f4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/jawk/util/AwkSettings.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/jawk/util/AwkSettings.java
@@ -162,19 +162,8 @@ private void addInitialVariable(String keyValue) {
 		int equalsIdx = keyValue.indexOf('=');
 		String name = keyValue.substring(0, equalsIdx);
 		String valueString = keyValue.substring(equalsIdx + 1);
-		Object value;
-		// deduce type
-		try {
-			value = Integer.parseInt(valueString);
-		} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
-			try {
-				value = Double.parseDouble(valueString);
-			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe2) {
-				value = valueString;
-			}
-		}
 		// note: can overwrite previously defined variables
-		putVariable(name, value);
+		putVariable(name, valueString);
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/jawk/AssocArrayTest.java b/src/test/java/io/jawk/AssocArrayTest.java
index 548b53a0..3d3a195a 100644
--- a/src/test/java/io/jawk/AssocArrayTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/io/jawk/AssocArrayTest.java
@@ -298,8 +298,8 @@ public void testSplitMutatesInjectedMapDirectly() throws Exception {
 		assertFalse(data.containsKey("old"));
 		assertFalse(data.containsKey(1));
 		assertFalse(data.containsKey(2));
-		assertEquals("alpha", data.get(1L));
-		assertEquals("beta", data.get(2L));
+		assertEquals("alpha", data.get(1L).toString());
+		assertEquals("beta", data.get(2L).toString());
 	}
 
 	@Test
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/jawk/AwkTest.java b/src/test/java/io/jawk/AwkTest.java
index 0b3bba3e..55ab6b62 100644
--- a/src/test/java/io/jawk/AwkTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/io/jawk/AwkTest.java
@@ -478,7 +478,11 @@ public void testFunctionArgumentsLeftAssociativity() throws Exception {
 
 	@Test
 	public void testAtan2ArgumentsLeftAssociativity() throws Exception {
-		assertEquals("atan2 arguments must be eval'ed from left to right", 0.0, AWK.eval("atan2(a++, a++)"));
+		AwkTestSupport
+				.awkTest("atan2 arguments left to right")
+				.script("BEGIN { print atan2(a++, a++) }")
+				.expect("0\n")
+				.runAndAssert();
 	}
 
 	@Test
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/jawk/JRTTest.java b/src/test/java/io/jawk/JRTTest.java
index 744e6dd5..91a9a2c4 100644
--- a/src/test/java/io/jawk/JRTTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/io/jawk/JRTTest.java
@@ -127,22 +127,22 @@ public void testCompare2NumericOperands() {
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void testCompare2NumericStrings() {
-		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("3", "3.0", 0));
+	public void testCompare2PlainStrings() {
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2("3", "3.0", 0));
 		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("3", "4.0", -1));
 		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("4.0", "3", 1));
-		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("1e2", "100", 0));
-		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("+.5", "0.5", 0));
-		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("5.", "5.0", 0));
-		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("-1E+2", "-100", 0));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2("1e2", "100", 0));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2("+.5", "0.5", 0));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2("5.", "5.0", 0));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2("-1E+2", "-100", 0));
 		assertFalse(JRT.compare2("1e2147483649", "2", 0));
 		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("1e2147483649", "2", -1));
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testCompare2MixedNumberAndString() {
-		assertTrue(JRT.compare2(3L, "3.0", 0));
-		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("3.0", 3L, 0));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2(3L, "3.0", 0));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2("3.0", 3L, 0));
 		assertTrue(JRT.compare2(3L, "4", -1));
 		assertTrue(JRT.compare2("4", 3L, 1));
 	}
@@ -221,8 +221,8 @@ public void testSplitUsesLongIndexesForPlainMap() {
 		int n = jrt.split(map, "a b");
 		assertEquals(2, n);
 		assertEquals(2L, map.get(0L));
-		assertEquals("a", map.get(1L));
-		assertEquals("b", map.get(2L));
+		assertEquals("a", map.get(1L).toString());
+		assertEquals("b", map.get(2L).toString());
 		assertFalse(map.containsKey(1));
 	}
 
@@ -232,9 +232,37 @@ public void testSplitRegexWhitespace() {
 		JRT jrt = new JRT(null, Locale.US, AwkSink.from(System.out, Locale.US), System.err);
 		int n = jrt.split("[ \t]+", aa, " 9853   shen");
 		assertEquals(3, n);
-		assertEquals("", aa.get(1));
-		assertEquals("9853", aa.get(2));
-		assertEquals("shen", aa.get(3));
+		assertEquals("", aa.get(1).toString());
+		assertEquals("9853", aa.get(2).toString());
+		assertEquals("shen", aa.get(3).toString());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testInputDerivedDollarZeroScalarIsCachedUntilRecordChanges() {
+		JRT jrt = new JRT(null, Locale.US, AwkSink.from(System.out, Locale.US), System.err);
+		jrt.setFS(" ");
+		jrt.setInputLine(jrt.toInputScalar("9 10"));
+
+		Object firstRead = jrt.getInputLine();
+		assertSame(firstRead, jrt.getInputLine());
+
+		jrt.jrtSetInputField("8", 1);
+
+		Object changedRead = jrt.getInputLine();
+		assertNotSame(firstRead, changedRead);
+		assertSame(changedRead, jrt.getInputLine());
+		assertEquals("8 10", changedRead.toString());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testFilenamePreservesScalarAttribute() {
+		JRT jrt = new JRT(null, Locale.US, AwkSink.from(System.out, Locale.US), System.err);
+
+		jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt(jrt.toInputScalar("9"));
+		assertTrue(JRT.compare2(jrt.getFILENAME(), Long.valueOf(10L), -1));
+
+		jrt.setFILENAMEViaJrt("9");
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2(jrt.getFILENAME(), Long.valueOf(10L), -1));
 	}
 
 	@Test
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/jawk/PosixConformanceTest.java b/src/test/java/io/jawk/PosixConformanceTest.java
index 9a49f8fb..88a1def1 100644
--- a/src/test/java/io/jawk/PosixConformanceTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/io/jawk/PosixConformanceTest.java
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ public void posix48NumericVsStringComparison() throws Exception {
 		AwkTestSupport
 				.awkTest("POSIX 4.8 numeric vs string comparison")
 				.script("BEGIN{print \"10\" < \"2\", 10 < \"2\", \"10\"==\"10\", \"10\"==10}")
-				.expectLines("0 0 1 1")
+				.expectLines("1 1 1 1")
 				.runAndAssert();
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/jawk/StrNumSemanticsTest.java b/src/test/java/io/jawk/StrNumSemanticsTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..faab2e3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/io/jawk/StrNumSemanticsTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+package io.jawk;
+
+/*-
+ * ╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲
+ * Jawk
+ * ჻჻჻჻჻჻
+ * Copyright (C) 2006 - 2026 MetricsHub
+ * ჻჻჻჻჻჻
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Lesser Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Lesser Public
+ * License along with this program.  If not, see
+ * <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.html>.
+ * ╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱╲╱
+ */
+
+import static io.jawk.AwkTestSupport.awkTest;
+import static io.jawk.AwkTestSupport.cliTest;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
+import java.util.Locale;
+import io.jawk.ext.StdinExtension;
+import io.jawk.util.AwkSettings;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+public class StrNumSemanticsTest {
+
+	@Test
+	public void testArithmeticKeepsNumericPrefixConversion() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("arithmetic parses numeric prefixes")
+				.script("{ print($1 + 1) }")
+				.stdin("2x\n2.3x\n2x.3x\n2e+02\n0x10\n")
+				.expectLines("3", "3.3", "3", "201", "1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testInputComparisonsUseStrNumAttribute() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("input-derived values compare as strnum only when fully numeric")
+				.script("{ print($1 < 10) }")
+				.stdin("2x\n2x.3x\n2e01\n9\n0x10\n")
+				.expectLines("0", "0", "0", "1", "1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testAssignmentPreservesStrNumAttribute() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("assignment preserves strnum attribute")
+				.script("{ x = $1; print(x < 10) }")
+				.stdin("9\n")
+				.expectLines("1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testStringOperationProducesPlainString() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("concatenation produces plain string")
+				.script("{ x = $1 \"\"; print(x < 10) }")
+				.stdin("9\n")
+				.expectLines("0")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testStringLiteralsArePlainStrings() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("string literals force string comparison")
+				.script("BEGIN { print(\"9\" < 10); print(9 < \"10\") }")
+				.expectLines("0", "0")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testNumericOperationProducesNumber() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("numeric operation produces numeric value")
+				.script("{ x = $1 + 0; print(x < 10) }")
+				.stdin("9\n")
+				.expectLines("1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testUninitializedEqualsNumericZeroStrNum() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("uninitialized equals numeric zero strnum")
+				.script("{ print($1 == undefined) }")
+				.stdin("0.000\n")
+				.expectLines("1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testFieldAssignmentPreservesAssignedAttribute() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("field assignment preserves assigned attribute")
+				.script("{ $1 = $2; print($1 < 10); $1 = \"3.00\"; print($1 < 10); $1 = 3.00; print($1 < 10) }")
+				.stdin("2.00 3.00\n")
+				.expectLines("1", "0", "1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testAssigningDollarZeroCreatesNumericStringFields() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("assigning dollar zero creates numeric string fields")
+				.script("{ $0 = \"2.00 3.00\"; print($1 < 10) }")
+				.stdin("ignored\n")
+				.expectLines("1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testAssignedDollarZeroRemainsPlainString() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("assigned dollar zero remains plain string")
+				.script("{ $0 = \"2.00 3.00\"; print($0 < 10); print($1 < 10) }")
+				.stdin("ignored\n")
+				.expectLines("0", "1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testAssignedDollarZeroPreservesAssignedAttribute() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("assigned dollar zero preserves assigned attribute")
+				.script("{ $0 = $1; print($0 < 10); $0 = 3.00; print($0 < 10); $0 = \"3.00\"; print($0 < 10) }")
+				.stdin("9\n")
+				.expectLines("1", "1", "0")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testArgvValuesAreInputDerived() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("ARGV values are input-derived")
+				.script("BEGIN { $0 = ARGV[1]; print($0 < 10); print($1 < 10); exit }")
+				.operand("9")
+				.expectLines("1", "1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSplitCreatesNumericStringElements() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("split array elements are numeric strings")
+				.script("BEGIN { split(\"9 9a\", a); print(a[1] < 10); print(a[2] < 10) }")
+				.expectLines("1", "0")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testCommandLineVariableAssignmentsAreInputDerived() throws Exception {
+		cliTest("CLI variable assignments are numeric strings")
+				.preassign("x", "9")
+				.script("BEGIN { print(x < 10) }")
+				.expectLines("1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testFilelistVariableAssignmentsAreInputDerived() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("filelist variable assignments are numeric strings")
+				.script("{ print(x < 10); exit }")
+				.operand("x=9")
+				.stdin("ignored\n")
+				.expectLines("1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testProgrammaticStringPreassignmentIsInputDerived() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("programmatic string preassignments are numeric strings")
+				.preassign("x", "9")
+				.script("BEGIN { print(x < 10) }")
+				.expectLines("1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testStrNumComparisonUsesRuntimeLocale() throws Exception {
+		AwkSettings settings = new AwkSettings();
+		settings.setLocale(Locale.FRANCE);
+
+		awkTest("strnum comparison uses runtime locale")
+				.withAwk(new Awk(settings))
+				.script("{ print($1 < 10) }")
+				.stdin("3,14\n")
+				.expectLines("1")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testNumericStrNumTruthinessUsesNumericValue() throws Exception {
+		awkTest("input-derived numeric string truthiness uses numeric value")
+				.script("{ print($1 ? \"true\" : \"false\") }")
+				.stdin("0\n2\n2a\n")
+				.expectLines("false", "true", "true")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testStdinExtensionInputUsesStrNumAttribute() throws Exception {
+		StdinExtension stdin = new StdinExtension(new ByteArrayInputStream("9\n0\n".getBytes(StandardCharsets.UTF_8)));
+
+		awkTest("stdin extension records are input-derived")
+				.withExtensions(stdin)
+				.script("BEGIN { StdinGetline(); print($0 < 10); StdinGetline(); print($0 ? \"true\" : \"false\") }")
+				.expectLines("1", "false")
+				.runAndAssert();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTComparisonNumberTest.java b/src/test/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTComparisonNumberTest.java
index b3e3c6c2..ba17ed4b 100644
--- a/src/test/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTComparisonNumberTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/io/jawk/jrt/JRTComparisonNumberTest.java
@@ -23,47 +23,84 @@
  */
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 
+import io.jawk.intermediate.UninitializedObject;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 public class JRTComparisonNumberTest {
 
 	@Test
-	public void testIsComparisonNumberAcceptsDecimalForms() {
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("0"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("123"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("+123"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("-123"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("123.45"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("+.5"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("5."));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("1e2"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("1E2"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("-1E+2"));
-		assertTrue(JRT.isComparisonNumber("+1e-2"));
+	public void testIsParseableNumberAcceptsDecimalForms() {
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("0", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("123", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("+123", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("-123", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("123.45", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("+.5", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("5.", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("1e2", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("1E2", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("-1E+2", '.'));
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("+1e-2", '.'));
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void testIsComparisonNumberRejectsInvalidDecimalForms() {
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber(""));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("+"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("-"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("."));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("e1"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("1e"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("1e+"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("1e-"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("1.2.3"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("123abc"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("abc123"));
+	public void testIsParseableNumberRejectsInvalidDecimalForms() {
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("+", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("-", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber(".", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("e1", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("1e", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("1e+", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("1e-", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("1.2.3", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("123abc", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("abc123", '.'));
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void testIsComparisonNumberRejectsHexadecimal() {
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("0x0"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("0x10"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("-0x10"));
-		assertFalse(JRT.isComparisonNumber("+0XFF"));
+	public void testIsParseableNumberRejectsHexadecimal() {
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("0x0", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("0x10", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("-0x10", '.'));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("+0XFF", '.'));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testIsParseableNumberUsesLocaleDecimalSeparator() {
+		assertTrue(JRT.isParseableNumber("3,14", ','));
+		assertFalse(JRT.isParseableNumber("3.14", ','));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testStrNumComparesNumericallyAgainstNumber() {
+		assertTrue(JRT.compare2(new StrNum("9"), 10L, -1));
+		assertTrue(JRT.compare2(10L, new StrNum("9"), 1));
+		assertTrue(JRT.compare2(new StrNum("3.0"), 3L, 0));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testPlainStringForcesStringComparison() {
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2("9", 10L, -1));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2(9L, "10", -1));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2(new StrNum("9"), "10", -1));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testNonNumericStrNumFallsBackToStringComparison() {
+		Object value = new StrNum("2x");
+		assertTrue(value instanceof StrNum);
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2(value, 10L, -1));
+		assertEquals(2.0D, JRT.toDouble(value), 0.0D);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testUninitializedEqualsNumericZeroStrNum() {
+		assertTrue(JRT.compare2(new UninitializedObject(), new StrNum("0.000"), 0));
+		assertTrue(JRT.compare2(new StrNum("0.000"), new UninitializedObject(), 0));
+		assertFalse(JRT.compare2(new UninitializedObject(), new StrNum("0.000"), -1));
 	}
 }