What is the primary effect of the RETAIN statement in a SAS DATA step?

Question

Accepted Answer

It keeps a variable's value from the previous iteration rather than resetting it to missing at the start of each iteration — Here's the deal — b is correct because by default, SAS resets non-retained variables to missing at the start of each DATA step iteration. RETAIN prevents this reset, carrying values forward — essential for running totals, flags, and lag calculations.

Answer

It permanently stores variable values in a SAS macro variable across programs

Answer

It marks a variable to be retained in the output dataset while dropping all others

Answer

It prevents a variable from being overwritten by a subsequent SET or MERGE statement

What is the primary effect of the RETAIN statement in a SAS DATA step?

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