# Using Expressions Overview

This document provides a brief overview of all topics that we cover in the *Using Expressions* documentation section. With Telerik Reporting, you can use expressions to control multiple aspects of a report such as:

* The content
* The style and appearance
* The behavior

The following approaches allow you to control these report aspects:

## Use an expression as a value for an item’s property

You can use an [expression as a value for an item’s property](https://www.telerik.com/products/reporting/documentation/designing-reports/connecting-to-data/expressions/using-expressions/expressions-as-values-of-item-properties). This allows you to easily customize your report.

## Embed expressions in a string literal

Another way to customize your report is to use [embedded expressions](https://www.telerik.com/products/reporting/documentation/designing-reports/connecting-to-data/expressions/using-expressions/embedded-expressions) so that you can blend text with expressions.

## Bind an expression to a report item property

Telerik Reporting allows you to [bind a report item’s property to an expression](https://www.telerik.com/products/reporting/documentation/designing-reports/connecting-to-data/expressions/using-expressions/bindings). Use this approach if the property that you are interested in doesn’t support expression values by default.

## Use conditional formatting to apply various report styles

Design your reports so that [conditional formatting applies different styles](https://www.telerik.com/products/reporting/documentation/designing-reports/connecting-to-data/expressions/using-expressions/conditional-formatting) based on the data in the report. This is possible when you use an expression instead of a static value for the style properties of a report item.

## Use expressions as criteria for grouping, filtering, and sorting

You can write expressions and use them to [group, filter, or sort data](https://www.telerik.com/products/reporting/documentation/designing-reports/connecting-to-data/expressions/using-expressions/grouping--filtering-and-sorting).

## Combine values from multiple columns and use them as parameter values

You can use an expression to combine values from multiple columns and use the result as [a parameter value or label](https://www.telerik.com/products/reporting/documentation/designing-reports/connecting-to-data/expressions/using-expressions/grouping--filtering-and-sorting).