PROC FREQUENCY in SAS is specifically designed to generate frequency counts for categorical variables. This procedure provides a simple yet powerful way to summarize and understand the distribution of categorical data by creating tables that display the counts of each category or level of the variable. It allows users to easily identify the most common values, observe the structure of the data, and uncover patterns within the dataset.
In addition to just counting occurrences, PROC FREQUENCY can also calculate percentages, cumulative frequencies, and other useful statistics depending on the requirements of the analysis. The procedure can produce one-way frequency tables for single variables or multi-way tables when analyzing the relationship between two or more categorical variables.
Utilizing PROC FREQUENCY is essential in exploratory data analysis, particularly when working with factors or nominal attributes, as it equips users with the foundational insights needed for further statistical modeling or inferential analysis.