You need "high" protein intake for both cutting and growing. For growing, to provide raw materials for muscle growth. For cutting, to maintain muscle tissue and avoiding catabolism. You manipulate your calories by cutting carbs or fat.
Reading between the lines you are referring to protein powder. Yes, you can use it but you really need a decent diet to start with. No point in taking protein powder when cutting as you digest that stuff (wpi or wpc) in an hour or so. Eating meat or eggs is much more filling and makes cutting easier.
For a growing phase, the powders are good if you can't stand the thought of eating another meal, or for topping up a meal you have just eaten or as a snack.
Types of protein? Well, with powders you have WPI and WPC (there are others, but these are the most common). WPI is more filtered and pure and has no lactose so will be easier on your stomach. WPC is cheaper, kg for kg, but has lactose and a lower protein/g purity. So the extra cost of WPI makes up with purity. i.e. You get what you pay for.
Casein powder takes about 7 hours to digest so is favoured for a pre bed snack. It tastes like shit and has the consistancy of congealed vomit, so I prefer to have cottage cheese, which is casein in an edible form.