What is considered the most basic or universal data type in Alteryx?

In Alteryx, the most basic or universal data type is strings. Strings can represent a wide range of information, including text data, which can encompass numbers, characters, and even dates when they are formatted as text. This flexibility makes strings a fundamental data type, as they can be utilized in various contexts, enhancing their universality compared to more specific types like numbers, booleans, or date/time values.

Numbers are also a critical data type but are limited to numerical values, which may restrict their use in certain situations where textual representation is required. Similarly, booleans represent true/false values, making them less versatile. Date/time values, while important for temporal data analysis, are specialized and do not carry the same breadth of application as strings do. Thus, strings serve as the foundational data type in Alteryx, accommodating the most diverse range of data inputs and functions.