diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-unit.yml b/.github/workflows/test-unit.yml
index 978f679..cf57e95 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-unit.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-unit.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
   test:
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        go-version: [ stable, oldstable ]
+        go-version: [ 1.17.x, stable, oldstable ]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Install Go
diff --git a/value.go b/value.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..509af79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/value.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package vars
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+)
+
+// Infer parses a value from a string into a suitable type.
+// If s only contains digits, int64 is returned.
+// If s is parsed as float, float64 is returned.
+// If s has unquoted values of true or false, bool is returned.
+// If s is equal to unquoted null, nil is returned.
+// If s starts with double quote ", string decoded from JSON is returned (mind JSON escaping rules).
+// If s starts with [ or {, any decoded from JSON is returned.
+// Otherwise, s is returned as is.
+func Infer(s string) interface{} {
+	switch s {
+	case "":
+		return ""
+	case "true":
+		return true
+	case "false":
+		return false
+	case "null":
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if s[0] == '"' {
+		var v string
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(s), &v); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("infer string value %s: %w", s, err)
+		}
+
+		return v
+	}
+
+	if s[0] == '[' || s[0] == '{' {
+		var v interface{}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(s), &v); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("infer JSON value %s: %w", s, err)
+		}
+
+		return v
+	}
+
+	if i, err := strconv.ParseInt(s, 10, 64); err == nil {
+		return i
+	}
+
+	if f, err := strconv.ParseFloat(s, 64); err == nil {
+		return f
+	}
+
+	return s
+}
diff --git a/value_test.go b/value_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f52b0a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/value_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package vars_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/godogx/vars"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestInfer(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		s string
+		v interface{}
+	}{
+		{"", ""},
+		{"123", int64(123)},
+		{"123.45", 123.45},
+		{"true", true},
+		{"false", false},
+		{"null", nil},
+		{`"bla\nbla"`, "bla\nbla"},
+		{`"bla\nbl...`, "infer string value \"bla\\nbl...: unexpected end of JSON input"},
+		{`{"foo":"bar"}`, map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"}},
+		{`["abc", 1, false, null]`, []interface{}{"abc", 1.0, false, nil}},
+		{`{"foo":"ba....`, "infer JSON value {\"foo\":\"ba....: unexpected end of JSON input"},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.s, func(t *testing.T) {
+			v := vars.Infer(tc.s)
+			if err, ok := v.(error); ok {
+				v = err.Error()
+			}
+
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.v, v)
+		})
+	}
+}