Excel is a spreadsheet program. Typical uses include compiling financial information, ledgers, and creating charts from data. Excel allows users to create lists of numerical data and apply mathematical formulas to the data. Excel is also used by many people to store information as an alternative to using a relational database. For instance, Excel may be used to maintain inventory records.
Access is a relational database program.
Data may be entered in sections called fields, and all of the fields equal a record. Records may then be linked together, and queries may be run to produce reports. Relational databases are very powerful programs, and are typically used to control large amounts of data. Typical uses include creating slide shows for project presentations and classes, and printing out handouts based on the slide shows. Many people create presentations and use a projector so that an audience may view the slide show as the presenter speaks.