What is Microsoft Access? - Explained

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1. What is Microsoft Access?

Microsoft Access is a database management system also known as DBMS developed by Microsoft Inc. Microsoft Access combined with two major products which are relational Microsoft JET database engine and graphical user interface which allows users to easy integration and easy data analysis.

Microsoft Access is used by software developers, data architects, students, and many types of users due to it's easy to use features and capability to develop a database easily. Microsoft Access is a product that is bundled with the Microsoft Office Software package and it's a pay to use a product that requires a license to use it.

2. History

Microsoft Access is a relational database product that was improved by Microsoft's first attempt to develop a database started in the mid 1980s. Microsoft developed its own codenamed Omega. After all the years of development and product enhancements, Microsoft released the initial release of Microsoft Access in November 1992.

3. Versions

Microsoft Access is released for Microsoft Windows OS in 1992 for the first time. Since then there were multiple versions of Microsoft Access got released focusing on Microsoft Windows OS platforms.

Version Code	Version Name	Year of Release	Supported OS
1.0 0	Access 1.1	1992	Windows 3.0 OS
2.0 0	Access 2.0	1993	Windows 3.1 OS
7.0 0	Access for Windows 95	24th August 1995	Windows 95
8.0 0	Access 97	16th January 1997	Windows 95
			Windows NT 3.51 SP5
			Windows NT 4.0 SP2
9.0 0	Access 2000	7th June 1999	Windows 95
			Windows NT 4.0
			Windows 98
			Windows 2000
10.0 0	Access 2002	31st May 2001	Windows NT 4.0 SP6
			Windows 98
			Windows 2000
			Windows Me
11.0 0	Access 2003	27th November 2003	Windows 2000 SP3
			Windows XP
			Windows Vista
			Windows 7
12.0 0	Access 2007	27th January 2007	Windows XP SP2
			Windows Server 2003 SP1 or Newer
14.0 0	Access 2010	15th July 2010	Windows XP SP3
			Windows Server 2003 SP2
			Windows Server 2003 R2
			Windows Vista SP1
			Windows Server 2008
			Windows 7
			Windows Server 2008 R2
			Windows Server 2012
			Windows 8
15.0 0	Access 2013	29th January 2013	Windows 7
			Windows Server 2008 R2
			Windows Server 2012
			Windows 8
			Windows 10
16.0 0	Access 2016	22nd September 2015	Windows 7
			Windows 8
			Windows 8.1
			Windows 10
16.0 0	Access 2019	24th September 2018	Windows 10