diff --git a/util/reader.py b/util/reader.py
index 740de5f..82f0e2c 100644
--- a/util/reader.py
+++ b/util/reader.py
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
+def parse_datafile(data_file: Path, output_format: str) -> str | list:
+    with open(data_file, 'r', encoding="utf-8") as data_file:
+        match output_format:
+            case 'string':
+                return data_file.read().strip()
+            case 'list':
+                return data_file.read().strip().splitlines()
+            case 'int_list':
+                return [int(line) for line in data_file.read().strip().splitlines()]
+    return []
+
+
 def data_as_string(data_file: Path) -> str:
     with open(data_file) as file:
         return file.read().strip()