What does the FORMAT statement do in SAS?

The FORMAT statement in SAS is designed to specify how variables are displayed in the output. When you apply a format to a variable, you are essentially controlling how the values of that variable will look when printed in reports or used in data views. For example, you can use formats to alter numeric values to include currency symbols, percentage signs, or to control the number of decimal places shown. Similarly, for character variables, formats can be used to adjust the display of formatted dates and other character data.

Using the FORMAT statement improves the readability and interpretability of the data in reports, allowing users to have a clearer understanding of the data they are working with. This capability is essential in presenting data findings clearly, especially when dealing with diverse data types and complex datasets.