% read a string ("s")
s = input("Enter a string: ", "s");

% read a GNU Octave expression, which is evaluated; e.g.
% 5/7 gives 0.71429
i = input("Enter an expression: ");

% parse the input for an integer
printf("Enter an integer: ");
ri = scanf("%d");

% show the values
disp(s);
disp(i);
disp(ri);