Microsoft Access is used as a powerful and flexible development tool to build custom applications.

To the operator it may not appear as a database but merely a tool that is used with a simple interface. Alternatively, for the more expert user it can be a more complex tool with obvious database features. This flexibility and simple interface is achieved through the use of code that acts as the glue for all the major components in the database.

Although Microsoft Access may lack absolute control of Windows behavior that C or others offer it wins quite easily for its speed of development and ability to perform data related tasks, eg reports, graphs, queries etc.

The actual source data maybe stored in an Access database or it may take the form of another database, eg Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Paradox, a spreadsheet, a text file, etc.

In addition, many companies and organisations are Access aware and may take ownership of the database and the code written for it, sometimes this is key to the purchase of the system from the outset and training would be offered to facilitate this in conjunction with documentation.