How is data converted from character to numeric type in SAS?

In SAS, converting data from character to numeric type is accomplished using the INPUT function. This function allows you to read a character string and convert it into a numeric value based on the specified informat. Informats define how the data should be interpreted when it is transformed.

For example, when dealing with a character variable that represents a number (like '123.45'), the INPUT function can be applied along with the appropriate informat (such as BEST.) to convert it into a numeric variable. The conversion is essential when mathematical operations or statistical analyses are required, as these operations depend on numeric data types.

Other functions mentioned, such as COMPRESS, FIND, and PUT, serve different purposes. COMPRESS is used to remove specified characters from a string, FIND searches for a substring within a string, and the PUT function is utilized to convert numeric values to character strings, which does not apply to the task of converting from character to numeric. Thus, the INPUT function is specifically designed for the conversion of character data to numeric format in SAS.