What does the LABEL statement do in SAS?

The LABEL statement in SAS is designed to associate a descriptive label with a variable. When you use the LABEL statement, you provide a temporary name that can be more informative than the original variable name. This label will be displayed in reports, procedures, and the printed output instead of the actual variable name, enhancing the readability and understanding of the dataset.

For instance, if you have a variable named “age,” you could use a LABEL statement to display “Age of Respondents” in output reports. This feature is particularly beneficial when you want to enhance the interpretability of your data by providing context.

The other options focus on functionalities that the LABEL statement does not provide, helping to highlight its specific purpose within SAS. It does not create permanent names for variables, format numeric data, or control the appearance of graphics in reports, distinguishing it as a tool primarily for enhancing report clarity through descriptive labeling.