Field data types available in Microsoft Access

Field data types available in Microsoft Access

The following table summarizes all the field data types available in Microsoft Access, their uses, and their storage sizes.

Data type Use for Size
Text Text or combinations of text and numbers, such as addresses. Also numbers that do not require calculations, such as phone numbers, part numbers, or postal codes.

For more information on defining a Text field, click .

 Up to 255 characters.

Microsoft Access only stores the characters entered in a field; it does not store space characters for unused positions in a Text field. To control the maximum number of characters that can be entered, set the FieldSize property.
Memo Lengthy text and numbers, such as notes or descriptions.

For more information on defining a Memo field, click .

 Up to 64,000 characters.
Number Numeric data to be used for mathematical calculations, except calculations involving money (use Currency type). Set the FieldSize property to define the specific Number type.

For more information on defining a Number field, click .

 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes. 16 bytes for Replication ID (GUID) only.

For more information on changing Number field sizes, click .
Date/Time Dates and times.

For more information on defining a Date/Time field, click .

 8 bytes.
Currency Currency values. Use the Currency data type to prevent rounding off during calculations. Accurate to 15 digits to the left of the decimal point and 4 digits to the right.

For more information on defining a Currency field, click .

 8 bytes.
AutoNumber Unique sequential (incrementing by 1) or random numbers automatically inserted when a record is added.

For more information on defining an AutoNumber field, click .

 4 bytes. 16 bytes for Replication ID (GUID) only.
Yes/No Fields that will contain only one of two values, such as Yes/No, True/False, On/Off.

For more information on defining a Yes/No field, click .

 1 bit.
OLE Object Objects (such as Microsoft Word documents, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, pictures, sounds, or other binary data), created in other programs using the OLE protocol, that can be linked to or embedded in a Microsoft Access table. You must use a bound object frame in a form or report to display the OLE object.

For more information on defining an OLE Object field, click .

 Up to 1 gigabyte (limited by disk space).
Hyperlink Field that will store hyperlinks. A hyperlink can be a UNC path or a URL.

For more information on defining a Hyperlink field, click .

 Up to 64,000 characters.
Lookup Wizard Creates a field that allows you to choose a value from another table or from a list of values using a combo box. Choosing this option in the data type list starts a wizard to define this for you.

For more information on defining a Lookup field, click .

 The same size as the primary key field that is also the Lookup field; typically 4 bytes.

Note   Number, Date/Time, Currency, and Yes/No data types provide predefined display formats. Set the Format property to choose from the formats available for each data type. You can also create a custom display format for all data types except the OLE Object data type. For information on how to define a custom display format, click .