Access Database Engine – Definition
The Access Database Engine (ADE) is a Microsoft data connectivity component that allows applications to read from and write to Microsoft Access database formats (.mdb, .accdb) and other Office file formats like Excel. It supports connections via OLE DB, ODBC, and ADO.NET.
Key Features
- Enables data connectivity for Microsoft Access and Excel files.
- Provides drivers such as
Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0orMicrosoft.ACE.OLEDB.16.0. - Works with both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, depending on the version installed.
- Available as a standalone component (redistributable installer).
Use Cases
- Reading/writing Access databases in .NET applications.
- Importing/exporting data between Excel and Access.
- Connecting to Access data from BI tools like Power BI or SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).
- Using Access databases in applications that support OLE DB or ODBC connections.
Installation
The Access Database Engine can be installed via the Microsoft Access Database Engine Redistributable, which is available in versions such as:
- 2007 (version 12.0)
- 2010 (version 14.0)
- 2016 or newer (version 16.0)