What type of variable can contain any string value for use in column or filter expressions?

A text variable is specifically designed to hold string values, making it ideal for use in column or filter expressions. In the context of data manipulation and reporting, text variables allow for flexibility in generating reports because they can store names, descriptions, and other string-based data that can be utilized whenever there is a need for textual representation.

Text variables can be particularly useful when constructing dynamic expressions or when filtering data based on specific string criteria. Their versatility ensures that any scenarios requiring textual identification or categorization can be effectively addressed.

Other variable types such as quantity, boolean, and date are tailored for specific types of data: quantity variables hold numeric values, boolean variables contain true/false values, and date variables are used for date values. Each of these serves distinct purposes, but none have the functionality of accommodating a wide range of string values like text variables do.