In SAS, what does a one-level name indicate?

A one-level name in SAS indicates a temporary data set stored in the WORK library. When you use a one-level name, such as simply naming a data set without a library prefix, SAS automatically directs it to the WORK library, which is a temporary storage location. This library is created automatically when you start a SAS session, and any data sets created in this library will be deleted when the session ends.

Understanding this concept is crucial for managing data efficiently, especially when dealing with large datasets or when conducting analysis that does not require permanent storage. The ability to utilize the WORK library allows for quick and flexible data management during a session without cluttering up more permanent libraries.

In this context, it is helpful to be aware of what two-level names represent, which include the library name as a prefix followed by the dataset name. This approach explicitly directs data sets to a specified library, often used when persistence is required, but with a one-level name, the focus is on temporary and immediate analysis work.