# SAS Language

> programming language used for statistical analysis

**Wikidata**: [Q7388824](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7388824)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAS_language)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sas-language

## Summary
The SAS Language is a 4th-generation programming language used primarily for statistical analysis and computational science. Developed by Anthony James Barr and the SAS Institute, the language is designed to be user-friendly and non-procedural, allowing users to focus on "what" needs to be done rather than "how" to do it. It supports cross-platform operation and utilizes both data-driven and procedural programming paradigms.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** The SAS Language was developed in 1976.
- **Developer/DDesigner:** It was designed by Anthony James Barr and developed by the SAS Institute.
- **Classification:** It is classified as a 4th-generation programming language (4GL).
- **Primary Utility:** The language is utilized for computational science and data analysis.
- **Operating System:** It functions as a cross-platform software tool.
- **Programming Paradigms:** It supports data-driven programming and procedural programming.
- **File Extension:** SAS files use the `.sas` extension.
- **Identifiers:** The language is tracked under the Library of Congress Authority ID `sh2005006970` and the Microsoft Academic ID `66143551`.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the SAS Language used for?
A: The SAS Language is used for statistical analysis, data analysis, and computational science. It helps users construct mathematical models and solve scientific problems using quantitative analysis techniques.

### Q: What makes SAS a 4th-generation programming language?
A: As a 4th-generation programming language (4GL), SAS is more user-friendly and non-procedural compared to lower-level languages. This nature allows users to specify "what" the computer should do rather than detailing the step-by-step "how."

### Q: Who created the SAS Language?
A: The language was designed by Anthony James Barr and is developed by the SAS Institute. It was originally inceptioned in 1976.

## Why It Matters
The SAS Language plays a critical role in the field of computational science and data analysis by bridging the gap between complex statistical theory and practical application. As a 4th-generation programming language, it democratizes data processing by abstracting complex hardware and implementation details. This abstraction allows researchers, scientists, and analysts to focus on the logic of their analysis—defined by the "what" rather than the "how"—which significantly increases productivity and reduces the technical barrier to entry for high-level quantitative analysis.

Since its inception in 1976, the language has served as a foundational tool for constructing mathematical models and solving scientific problems across various industries. Its design supports a mix of procedural and data-driven programming, offering flexibility in how data is manipulated and analyzed. By enabling cross-platform functionality, the SAS Language ensures that critical data analysis tasks can be performed consistently regardless of the underlying operating system, solidifying its status as a standard tool in the analytical toolkit.

## Notable For
- Being a **4th-generation programming language (4GL)**, distinguished by its non-procedural nature that prioritizes user intent over implementation details.
- **Simplifying statistical analysis** by allowing users to think in terms of "what" results they need rather than the procedural "how" to get them.
- **Cross-platform compatibility**, allowing for broad deployment across different operating systems.
- **Longevity**, having been in use since its inception in 1976.
- Supporting both **data-driven and procedural programming** paradigms, offering versatility in coding approaches.

## Body
### Development and History
The SAS Language was inceptioned in **1976**. The principal design credit goes to **Anthony James Barr**, with continued development attributed to the **SAS Institute**. The language was created to address the growing need for sophisticated tools in computational science and data analysis.

### Technical Classification and Paradigms
SAS is technically classified as a **4th-generation programming language**. This classification implies it is designed to be more user-friendly and non-procedural than 3rd-generation languages (such as C or Java). In a 4GL context, users define parameters and logic for "what" they want to achieve—such as a specific statistical output—rather than writing detailed algorithms for "how" the computer should process the data.

The language operates primarily within the **data-driven programming** paradigm, though it also supports **procedural programming**. This allows for robust manipulation of large datasets typical in computational science.

### Application in Computational Science
The language is a core tool in the field of **computational science**. It is used to construct mathematical models and employ quantitative analysis techniques to solve scientific problems. By using computers to analyze data, the SAS Language facilitates complex problem-solving in scientific and industrial research.

### System Specifications and Identifiers
- **Operating System:** The language is **cross-platform**.
- **File Extension:** Source files are saved with the **.sas** extension.
- **Authority Control:** The language is indexed by the Library of Congress under the ID **sh2005006970** and by the National Library of Israel with ID **987007530542905171**.
- **ESCO Skill ID:** **04f1b938-d4d4-4cb1-a863-982af76b9d93**.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File