Back End
Often Microsoft Access database applications are split into a front-end and a back-end. The term back-end database refers to the part that contains the data. The front-end contains the bits that the user interacts with: menus, screens and reports. The front-end is normally stored on each user's computer and the back-end is stored on a server machine.
The process of converting a database file into separate front end and back end files is called splitting the database.
This separation of applications into front and back ends simplifies development and maintenance.
Figure 1.0 Splitting a single database file into a front end file and a back end file.
Mix and Match
This separation also allows for the front-end and the back-end to something other than Microsoft Access.
Some common combinations are:
- Microsoft Excel as the front and Microsoft Access and the back-end.
- Microsoft Access as the front-end and Microsoft SQL Server as the back-end.
- Microsoft Access as the front-end and Oracle as the back-end.
- Microsoft ASP.NET as the front-end and Microsoft SQL Server as the back-end.
- Microsoft ASP.NET as the front-end and Microsoft AZURE as the back-end.