What is the PROC MEANS procedure commonly used for in SAS?

The PROC MEANS procedure in SAS is primarily used for calculating descriptive statistics of numeric variables within a dataset. This includes key measures such as the mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, and n (the number of non-missing values). The procedure facilitates summarizing data, allowing users to quickly derive important insights about the distribution and central tendency of their numeric variables.

Moreover, PROC MEANS allows for grouping and several customization options, such as specifying the statistics to be calculated or focusing on subsets of the data using a CLASS statement. This capability makes it an essential tool for exploratory data analysis, helping users understand and communicate the characteristics of their data effectively.