vtype returns the data type of a variable. The returned value is either N (for numeric) or C (for character). data _null_; num = 42; str = 'fourty-two'; num_missing = .; num_missing_special = .q; num_type = vtype(num ); str_type = vtype(str ); num_missing_type = vtype(num_missing); num_missing_special_type = vtype(num_missing); put num_type= ; /* num_type=N */ put str_type= ; /* str_type=C */ put num_missing_type= ; /* num_missing_type=N */ put num_missing_special_type=type=; /* num_missing_special_type=N */ run;