diff --git a/cliff/columns.py b/cliff/columns.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b6c026
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cliff/columns.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""Formattable column tools.
+"""
+
+import abc
+
+import six
+
+
+@six.add_metaclass(abc.ABCMeta)
+class FormattableColumn(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, value):
+        self._value = value
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def human_readable(self):
+        """Return a basic human readable version of the data.
+        """
+
+    def machine_readable(self):
+        """Return a raw data structure using only Python built-in types.
+
+        It must be possible to serialize the return value directly
+        using a formatter like JSON, and it will be up to the
+        formatter plugin to decide how to make that transformation.
+
+        """
+        return self._value
diff --git a/cliff/formatters/base.py b/cliff/formatters/base.py
index c477a54..79e8920 100644
--- a/cliff/formatters/base.py
+++ b/cliff/formatters/base.py
@@ -26,11 +26,18 @@ class ListFormatter(Formatter):
     def emit_list(self, column_names, data, stdout, parsed_args):
         """Format and print the list from the iterable data source.
 
+        Data values can be primitive types like ints and strings, or
+        can be an instance of a :class:`FormattableColumn` for
+        situations where the value is complex, and may need to be
+        handled differently for human readable output vs. machine
+        readable output.
+
         :param column_names: names of the columns
         :param data: iterable data source, one tuple per object
                      with values in order of column names
         :param stdout: output stream where data should be written
         :param parsed_args: argparse namespace from our local options
+
         """
 
 
@@ -43,6 +50,12 @@ class SingleFormatter(Formatter):
     def emit_one(self, column_names, data, stdout, parsed_args):
         """Format and print the values associated with the single object.
 
+        Data values can be primitive types like ints and strings, or
+        can be an instance of a :class:`FormattableColumn` for
+        situations where the value is complex, and may need to be
+        handled differently for human readable output vs. machine
+        readable output.
+
         :param column_names: names of the columns
         :param data: iterable data source with values in order of column names
         :param stdout: output stream where data should be written
diff --git a/cliff/formatters/commaseparated.py b/cliff/formatters/commaseparated.py
index c545f28..ce66d2a 100644
--- a/cliff/formatters/commaseparated.py
+++ b/cliff/formatters/commaseparated.py
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ import os
 import sys
 
 from .base import ListFormatter
+from cliff import columns
+
+import six
 
 if sys.version_info[0] == 3:
     import csv
@@ -35,8 +38,14 @@ class CSVLister(ListFormatter):
         writer = csv.writer(stdout,
                             quoting=self.QUOTE_MODES[parsed_args.quote_mode],
                             lineterminator=os.linesep,
+                            escapechar='\\',
                             )
         writer.writerow(column_names)
         for row in data:
-            writer.writerow(row)
+            writer.writerow(
+                [(six.text_type(c.machine_readable())
+                  if isinstance(c, columns.FormattableColumn)
+                  else c)
+                 for c in row]
+            )
         return
diff --git a/cliff/formatters/json_format.py b/cliff/formatters/json_format.py
index fc35da1..6782499 100644
--- a/cliff/formatters/json_format.py
+++ b/cliff/formatters/json_format.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import json
 
 from .base import ListFormatter, SingleFormatter
+from cliff import columns
 
 
 class JSONFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
@@ -20,11 +21,21 @@ class JSONFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
     def emit_list(self, column_names, data, stdout, parsed_args):
         items = []
         for item in data:
-            items.append(dict(zip(column_names, item)))
+            items.append(
+                {n: (i.machine_readable()
+                     if isinstance(i, columns.FormattableColumn)
+                     else i)
+                 for n, i in zip(column_names, item)}
+            )
         indent = None if parsed_args.noindent else 2
         json.dump(items, stdout, indent=indent)
 
     def emit_one(self, column_names, data, stdout, parsed_args):
-        one = dict(zip(column_names, data))
+        one = {
+            n: (i.machine_readable()
+                if isinstance(i, columns.FormattableColumn)
+                else i)
+            for n, i in zip(column_names, data)
+        }
         indent = None if parsed_args.noindent else 2
         json.dump(one, stdout, indent=indent)
diff --git a/cliff/formatters/shell.py b/cliff/formatters/shell.py
index e613c22..5525e22 100644
--- a/cliff/formatters/shell.py
+++ b/cliff/formatters/shell.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 """
 
 from .base import SingleFormatter
+from cliff import columns
 
 import argparse
 import six
@@ -37,6 +38,9 @@ class ShellFormatter(SingleFormatter):
         desired_columns = parsed_args.variables
         for name, value in zip(variable_names, data):
             if name in desired_columns or not desired_columns:
+                value = (six.text_type(value.machine_readable())
+                         if isinstance(value, columns.FormattableColumn)
+                         else value)
                 if isinstance(value, six.string_types):
                     value = value.replace('"', '\\"')
                 stdout.write('%s%s="%s"\n' % (parsed_args.prefix, name, value))
diff --git a/cliff/formatters/table.py b/cliff/formatters/table.py
index 8e51859..b62d7e3 100644
--- a/cliff/formatters/table.py
+++ b/cliff/formatters/table.py
@@ -7,6 +7,18 @@ import os
 
 from cliff import utils
 from .base import ListFormatter, SingleFormatter
+from cliff import columns
+
+
+def _format_row(row):
+    new_row = []
+    for r in row:
+        if isinstance(r, columns.FormattableColumn):
+            r = r.human_readable()
+        if isinstance(r, six.string_types):
+            r = r.replace('\r\n', '\n').replace('\r', ' ')
+        new_row.append(r)
+    return new_row
 
 
 class TableFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
@@ -52,12 +64,9 @@ class TableFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
                 alignment = self.ALIGNMENTS.get(type(value), 'l')
                 x.align[name] = alignment
             # Now iterate over the data and add the rows.
-            x.add_row(first_row)
+            x.add_row(_format_row(first_row))
             for row in data_iter:
-                row = [r.replace('\r\n', '\n').replace('\r', ' ')
-                       if isinstance(r, six.string_types) else r
-                       for r in row]
-                x.add_row(row)
+                x.add_row(_format_row(row))
 
         # Choose a reasonable min_width to better handle many columns on a
         # narrow console. The table will overflow the console width in
@@ -80,9 +89,7 @@ class TableFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
         x.align['Field'] = 'l'
         x.align['Value'] = 'l'
         for name, value in zip(column_names, data):
-            value = (value.replace('\r\n', '\n').replace('\r', ' ') if
-                     isinstance(value, six.string_types) else value)
-            x.add_row((name, value))
+            x.add_row(_format_row((name, value)))
 
         # Choose a reasonable min_width to better handle a narrow
         # console. The table will overflow the console width in preference
diff --git a/cliff/formatters/value.py b/cliff/formatters/value.py
index 6cc6744..d28f928 100644
--- a/cliff/formatters/value.py
+++ b/cliff/formatters/value.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import six
 
 from .base import ListFormatter
 from .base import SingleFormatter
+from cliff import columns
 
 
 class ValueFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
@@ -14,10 +15,19 @@ class ValueFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
 
     def emit_list(self, column_names, data, stdout, parsed_args):
         for row in data:
-            stdout.write(' '.join(map(six.text_type, row)) + u'\n')
+            stdout.write(
+                ' '.join(
+                    six.text_type(c.machine_readable()
+                                  if isinstance(c, columns.FormattableColumn)
+                                  else c)
+                    for c in row) + u'\n')
         return
 
     def emit_one(self, column_names, data, stdout, parsed_args):
         for value in data:
-            stdout.write('%s\n' % str(value))
+            stdout.write('%s\n' % six.text_type(
+                value.machine_readable()
+                if isinstance(value, columns.FormattableColumn)
+                else value)
+            )
         return
diff --git a/cliff/formatters/yaml_format.py b/cliff/formatters/yaml_format.py
index e6fe17d..083cf52 100644
--- a/cliff/formatters/yaml_format.py
+++ b/cliff/formatters/yaml_format.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import yaml
 
 from .base import ListFormatter, SingleFormatter
+from cliff import columns
 
 
 class YAMLFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
@@ -14,10 +15,19 @@ class YAMLFormatter(ListFormatter, SingleFormatter):
     def emit_list(self, column_names, data, stdout, parsed_args):
         items = []
         for item in data:
-            items.append(dict(zip(column_names, item)))
+            items.append(
+                {n: (i.machine_readable()
+                     if isinstance(i, columns.FormattableColumn)
+                     else i)
+                 for n, i in zip(column_names, item)}
+            )
         yaml.safe_dump(items, stream=stdout, default_flow_style=False)
 
     def emit_one(self, column_names, data, stdout, parsed_args):
         for key, value in zip(column_names, data):
-            dict_data = {key: value}
+            dict_data = {
+                key: (value.machine_readable()
+                      if isinstance(value, columns.FormattableColumn)
+                      else value)
+            }
             yaml.safe_dump(dict_data, stream=stdout, default_flow_style=False)
diff --git a/cliff/tests/test_columns.py b/cliff/tests/test_columns.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbb8217
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cliff/tests/test_columns.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from cliff import columns
+
+
+class FauxColumn(columns.FormattableColumn):
+
+    def human_readable(self):
+        return u'I made this string myself: {}'.format(self._value)
+
+
+def test_faux_column_machine():
+    c = FauxColumn(['list', 'of', 'values'])
+    assert c.machine_readable() == ['list', 'of', 'values']
+
+
+def test_faux_column_human():
+    c = FauxColumn(['list', 'of', 'values'])
+    assert c.human_readable() == \
+        u"I made this string myself: ['list', 'of', 'values']"
diff --git a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_csv.py b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_csv.py
index cd2e4cf..510c790 100644
--- a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_csv.py
+++ b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_csv.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import argparse
 import six
 
 from cliff.formatters import commaseparated
+from cliff.tests import test_columns
 
 
 def test_commaseparated_list_formatter():
@@ -40,6 +41,20 @@ def test_commaseparated_list_formatter_quoted():
     assert expected == actual
 
 
+def test_commaseparated_list_formatter_formattable_column():
+    sf = commaseparated.CSVLister()
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
+    d1 = ('A', 'B', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value']))
+    data = [d1]
+    expected = 'a,b,c\nA,B,[\'the\'\\, \'value\']\n'
+    output = six.StringIO()
+    parsed_args = mock.Mock()
+    parsed_args.quote_mode = 'none'
+    sf.emit_list(c, data, output, parsed_args)
+    actual = output.getvalue()
+    assert expected == actual
+
+
 def test_commaseparated_list_formatter_unicode():
     sf = commaseparated.CSVLister()
     c = (u'a', u'b', u'c')
diff --git a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_json.py b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_json.py
index 26d6f5e..0ce902b 100644
--- a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_json.py
+++ b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_json.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from six import StringIO
 import json
 
 from cliff.formatters import json_format
+from cliff.tests import test_columns
 
 import mock
 
@@ -38,6 +39,29 @@ def test_json_format_one():
     assert expected == actual
 
 
+def test_json_format_formattablecolumn_one():
+    sf = json_format.JSONFormatter()
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c', 'd')
+    d = ('A', 'B', 'C', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value']))
+    expected = {
+        'a': 'A',
+        'b': 'B',
+        'c': 'C',
+        'd': ['the', 'value'],
+    }
+    args = mock.Mock()
+    sf.add_argument_group(args)
+
+    args.noindent = True
+    output = StringIO()
+    sf.emit_one(c, d, output, args)
+    value = output.getvalue()
+    print(len(value.splitlines()))
+    assert 1 == len(value.splitlines())
+    actual = json.loads(value)
+    assert expected == actual
+
+
 def test_json_format_list():
     sf = json_format.JSONFormatter()
     c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
@@ -69,3 +93,24 @@ def test_json_format_list():
     assert 17 == len(value.splitlines())
     actual = json.loads(value)
     assert expected == actual
+
+
+def test_json_format_formattablecolumn_list():
+    sf = json_format.JSONFormatter()
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
+    d = (
+        ('A1', 'B1', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value'])),
+    )
+    expected = [
+        {'a': 'A1', 'b': 'B1', 'c': ['the', 'value']},
+    ]
+    args = mock.Mock()
+    sf.add_argument_group(args)
+
+    args.noindent = True
+    output = StringIO()
+    sf.emit_list(c, d, output, args)
+    value = output.getvalue()
+    assert 1 == len(value.splitlines())
+    actual = json.loads(value)
+    assert expected == actual
diff --git a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_shell.py b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_shell.py
index 956e16b..2babfd4 100644
--- a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_shell.py
+++ b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_shell.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import argparse
 from six import StringIO, text_type
 
 from cliff.formatters import shell
+from cliff.tests import test_columns
 
 import mock
 
@@ -38,6 +39,24 @@ def test_shell_formatter_args():
     assert expected == actual
 
 
+def test_shell_formatter_formattable_column():
+    sf = shell.ShellFormatter()
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
+    d = ('A', 'B', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value']))
+    expected = '\n'.join([
+        'a="A"',
+        'b="B"',
+        'c="[\'the\', \'value\']"\n',
+    ])
+    output = StringIO()
+    args = mock.Mock()
+    args.variables = ['a', 'b', 'c']
+    args.prefix = ''
+    sf.emit_one(c, d, output, args)
+    actual = output.getvalue()
+    assert expected == actual
+
+
 def test_shell_formatter_with_non_string_values():
     sf = shell.ShellFormatter()
     c = ('a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e')
diff --git a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_table.py b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_table.py
index a9cd975..0e093eb 100644
--- a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_table.py
+++ b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_table.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import os
 import argparse
 
 from cliff.formatters import table
+from cliff.tests import test_columns
 
 
 class args(object):
@@ -65,7 +66,6 @@ def test_table_formatter(tw):
 '''
     assert expected == _table_tester_helper(c, d)
 
-
 # Multi-line output when width is restricted to 42 columns
 expected_ml_val = '''\
 +-------+--------------------------------+
@@ -237,6 +237,24 @@ def test_table_list_formatter(tw):
     assert expected == _table_tester_helper(c, data)
 
 
+@mock.patch('cliff.utils.terminal_width')
+def test_table_formatter_formattable_column(tw):
+    tw.return_value = 0
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c', 'd')
+    d = ('A', 'B', 'C', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value']))
+    expected = '''\
++-------+---------------------------------------------+
+| Field | Value                                       |
++-------+---------------------------------------------+
+| a     | A                                           |
+| b     | B                                           |
+| c     | C                                           |
+| d     | I made this string myself: ['the', 'value'] |
++-------+---------------------------------------------+
+'''
+    assert expected == _table_tester_helper(c, d)
+
+
 _col_names = ('one', 'two', 'three')
 _col_data = [(
     'one one one one one',
@@ -301,6 +319,22 @@ _expected_mv = {
 }
 
 
+@mock.patch('cliff.utils.terminal_width')
+def test_table_list_formatter_formattable_column(tw):
+    tw.return_value = 80
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
+    d1 = ('A', 'B', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value']))
+    data = [d1]
+    expected = '''\
++---+---+---------------------------------------------+
+| a | b | c                                           |
++---+---+---------------------------------------------+
+| A | B | I made this string myself: ['the', 'value'] |
++---+---+---------------------------------------------+
+'''
+    assert expected == _table_tester_helper(c, data)
+
+
 @mock.patch('cliff.utils.terminal_width')
 def test_table_list_formatter_max_width(tw):
     # no resize
diff --git a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_value.py b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_value.py
index a19a4d2..6ba9e9d 100644
--- a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_value.py
+++ b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_value.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from six import StringIO
 
 from cliff.formatters import value
+from cliff.tests import test_columns
 
 
 def test_value_formatter():
@@ -15,6 +16,17 @@ def test_value_formatter():
     assert expected == actual
 
 
+def test_value_formatter_formattable_column():
+    sf = value.ValueFormatter()
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c', 'd')
+    d = ('A', 'B', 'C', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value']))
+    expected = "A\nB\nC\n['the', 'value']\n"
+    output = StringIO()
+    sf.emit_one(c, d, output, None)
+    actual = output.getvalue()
+    assert expected == actual
+
+
 def test_value_list_formatter():
     sf = value.ValueFormatter()
     c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
@@ -26,3 +38,15 @@ def test_value_list_formatter():
     sf.emit_list(c, data, output, None)
     actual = output.getvalue()
     assert expected == actual
+
+
+def test_value_list_formatter_formattable_column():
+    sf = value.ValueFormatter()
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
+    d1 = ('A', 'B', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value']))
+    data = [d1]
+    expected = "A B ['the', 'value']\n"
+    output = StringIO()
+    sf.emit_list(c, data, output, None)
+    actual = output.getvalue()
+    assert expected == actual
diff --git a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_yaml.py b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_yaml.py
index ef8805f..d64d1b7 100644
--- a/cliff/tests/test_formatters_yaml.py
+++ b/cliff/tests/test_formatters_yaml.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from six import StringIO
 import yaml
 
 from cliff.formatters import yaml_format
+from cliff.tests import test_columns
 
 import mock
 
@@ -24,6 +25,28 @@ def test_yaml_format_one():
     assert expected == actual
 
 
+def test_yaml_format_formattablecolumn_one():
+    sf = yaml_format.YAMLFormatter()
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c', 'd')
+    d = ('A', 'B', 'C', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value']))
+    expected = {
+        'a': 'A',
+        'b': 'B',
+        'c': 'C',
+        'd': ['the', 'value'],
+    }
+    args = mock.Mock()
+    sf.add_argument_group(args)
+
+    args.noindent = True
+    output = StringIO()
+    sf.emit_one(c, d, output, args)
+    value = output.getvalue()
+    print(len(value.splitlines()))
+    actual = yaml.safe_load(output.getvalue())
+    assert expected == actual
+
+
 def test_yaml_format_list():
     sf = yaml_format.YAMLFormatter()
     c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
@@ -43,3 +66,22 @@ def test_yaml_format_list():
     sf.emit_list(c, d, output, args)
     actual = yaml.safe_load(output.getvalue())
     assert expected == actual
+
+
+def test_yaml_format_formattablecolumn_list():
+    sf = yaml_format.YAMLFormatter()
+    c = ('a', 'b', 'c')
+    d = (
+        ('A1', 'B1', test_columns.FauxColumn(['the', 'value'])),
+    )
+    expected = [
+        {'a': 'A1', 'b': 'B1', 'c': ['the', 'value']},
+    ]
+    args = mock.Mock()
+    sf.add_argument_group(args)
+
+    args.noindent = True
+    output = StringIO()
+    sf.emit_list(c, d, output, args)
+    actual = yaml.safe_load(output.getvalue())
+    assert expected == actual