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data type

The attribute of a variable or field that determines what kind of data it can hold. For example, in a Microsoft Access database, the Text and Memo field data types allow the field to store either text or numbers, but the Number data type will allow the field to store numbers only. Number data type fields store numerical data that will be used in mathematical calculations. Use the Currency data type to display or calculate currency values.

In a Microsoft Access project, the varchar and text field data types are used to store either text or numbers. There are many different data types used to store only numbers, such as int, smallint, numeric, and decimal; they are used according to the number's length and precision. Money and smallmoney data types are used to store monetary values.

Supported data types in Access include field data types, Visual Basic data types, and query parameter data types.