The table below gives an overview of the data types available in Access desktop databases (.accdb and .mdb). For a comprehensive list of all the various field properties available for the various data types, …

This article describes the data types and other field properties available in Access, and includes additional information in a detailed data type reference section.

Access uses table relationships to decide how to join tables when you need to use them in a database object. There are several reasons why you should create table relationships before you create other …

When you create a field by entering data in Datasheet view, Access automatically assigns a data type for the field, based on the value that you enter. If no other data type is implied by your input, Access …

For a full list of all supported data types across the various Access versions, see Data types for Access desktop databases and Introduction to data types and field properties.

Becoming familiar with the tables, forms, queries, and other objects in an Access database can make it easier to perform a wide variety of tasks, such as entering data into a form, adding or removing …

This topic lists several commonly used criteria by data type. If the examples given in this topic do not address your specific needs, you might need to write your own criteria.

Training: Establish relationships between your tables, so that you can use Acces to combine data in queries, forms, and reports. Watch this online training video to learn how.

Access validates data as it’s entered to ensure that it matches the field’s data type. If you need a specific data format in a field, specify its data type when you create it.

In general, Access is better for managing data: helping you keep it organized, easy to search, and available to multiple simultaneous users. Excel is generally better for analyzing data: performing …