What is a 'join' in Access?

A 'join' in Access is a method of combining rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them. This is a fundamental aspect of relational databases, allowing data from different tables to be queried together, which enhances the ability to generate complex reports and analyses.

For example, if you have a table of customers and a separate table of orders, you can perform a join to see which customers made specific orders. This functionality is critical in identifying relationships within your data, ensuring that the information is presented cohesively and meaningfully.

Other options do not accurately describe the concept of a 'join.' Storing data in a single table refers to a different approach to data organization, not merging data from multiple sources. Enforcing input formats is about data validation, while a type of query to retrieve data from one table lacks the essence of combining data, which is central to the definition of a join.