In Informatica Cloud, which type of transformation is used mainly to change data types?

The Expression Transformation is primarily used to change data types in Informatica Cloud. It allows users to perform calculations, manipulate strings, and transform values while also facilitating the conversion of one data type into another. This is especially useful in scenarios where data sources may provide information in different formats, and there is a need to standardize these formats before further processing or storage.

In the Expression Transformation, you can use built-in functions to convert data types, such as using TO_CHAR, TO_NUMBER, or TO_DATE functions to change data into the desired type. This transformation is highly flexible, offering the capability to handle complex expressions and transforming multiple fields simultaneously.

The other transformations, such as the Filter, Aggregator, and Join Transformations, have different primary functions. The Filter Transformation is used to remove unwanted data based on specified conditions, the Aggregator Transformation focuses on summarizing data (like summing or averaging), and the Join Transformation is used to combine two or more data sources based on a related column. None of these transformations are specifically designed for changing data types, which underscores why the Expression Transformation is the appropriate choice for this purpose.