`std::any` is a type in the C++ Standard Library that can hold a value of any type. It allows developers to store and manage different types of data in a single variable without knowing the type at compile time. This is useful in scenarios where the type of data may vary, such as in generic programming or when working with heterogeneous collections. To use `std::any`, you can create an instance and assign it a value of any type. You can then retrieve the value using `std::any_cast`, which safely converts the stored value back to its original type. If the type does not match, it throws a `std::bad_any_cast` exception.