What file extension is associated with SAS data sets?

The file extension associated with SAS data sets is .sas7bdat. This specific extension indicates that the file contains a SAS data set in its native format, which includes various types of data such as numeric and character variables, along with attributes like variable labels and formats.

SAS utilizes this file format to optimize performance and capabilities for data management and analytics, as it allows SAS to efficiently read and write data. The .sas7bdat extension is standardized so that other SAS programs can easily identify and manage these datasets.

In contrast, other file extensions listed do not pertain specifically to SAS data sets. The .dat and .txt extensions are commonly used for generic data files, often plain text files that can be read by various programs. The .sas extension refers to SAS source code files, which contain the programming instructions and scripts written in the SAS language, but do not represent data sets themselves. Hence, the choice of .sas7bdat is correct, as it distinctly identifies SAS data sets specifically.