Which function is used to convert numeric data to character data in SAS?

The function used to convert numeric data to character data in SAS is the PUT function. This function allows for the transformation of numeric values into a character format, which is essential when you need to perform character manipulations or create character representations in your SAS programs.

For instance, when dealing with a numerical value that needs to be displayed in a report alongside other character strings, using the PUT function can facilitate this by ensuring the number is converted properly. The PUT function can also be used with specific formats to control how the numeric data appears as character data, such as defining how many decimal places to include or applying currency formatting.

In contrast, the UPCASE function is intended for transforming character strings to uppercase, which does not pertain to converting numeric data to character format. The PROPCASE function capitalizes the first letter of each word in a character string but does not handle numeric data. Similarly, the MDY function is used to create SAS date values from numeric month, day, and year inputs, which is unrelated to the conversion of numeric data to character data. The PUT function stands out as the specific solution for this data type conversion need.