Managing data transactions is an important skill to have while working with databases. Tools like Structured Query Language (SQL) help you do this efficiently. It offers an array of built-in commands that can handle transactions, ensuring data integrity and consistency. Two most commonly used commands in this context are COMMIT and ROLLBACK. In this article, we will try to understand the differences between the COMMIT and ROLLBACK commands in SQL, as we learn about them in detail. We will also explore their usage through practical examples to master transaction management in SQL.
If you’re just starting out to explore SQL, here’s a beginner’s guide to help you: SQL For Data Science: A Beginner Guide
In SQL, a transaction is a sequence of one or more operations treated as a single unit of work. In other words, it’s a set or combination of commands or actions (such as INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, etc.), that together form a process. The point to note here is that if even one of these commands is not completed, the entire process will be canceled. Hence, all the operations must be completed for the transaction to be done.
Transactions follow the below properties, collectively termed as ACID:
The COMMIT command in SQL is used to save all changes made during the current transaction. Once a COMMIT command is issued, the changes become permanent and visible to other users.
Syntax: COMMIT;
START TRANSACTION;
INSERT INTO employees (name, position, salary) VALUES ('Alice', 'Engineer', 70000);
UPDATE employees SET salary = salary + 5000 WHERE name = 'Alice';
COMMIT;
In this example, the transaction inserts a new employee and updates the salary. The COMMIT command saves these changes.
The ROLLBACK command in SQL is used to undo all the changes made during the current transaction. You can use this if an error occurs during a transaction, or if you change your mind about the operations performed. It reverts the database to its previous state before the transaction began.
Syntax: ROLLBACK;
START TRANSACTION;
INSERT INTO employees (name, position, salary) VALUES ('Bob', 'Manager', 90000);
UPDATE employees SET salary = salary + 5000 WHERE name = 'Bob';
ROLLBACK;
Here, the transaction inserts a new employee and updates the salary. However, the ROLLBACK command reverts these changes.
Feature | COMMIT | ROLLBACK |
Function | Saves all changes made in the transaction | Reverts all changes made in the transaction |
Durability | Ensures changes are permanent | Ensures changes are not saved |
Usage | Used when all operations are successful | Used when an error occurs or transaction fails |
Syntax | COMMIT; | ROLLBACK; |
Reversibility | Irreversible once executed | Can be executed multiple times if transaction fails |
Understanding and using COMMIT and ROLLBACK commands effectively are essential for managing transactions in SQL. By using COMMIT, you make your changes permanent and visible to others. Meanwhile, ROLLBACK allows you to undo changes and revert the database to its previous state. Together, these commands help maintain data integrity, handle errors, and ensure that the database remains in a consistent state. Whether you are developing a new application or managing an existing database, mastering COMMIT and ROLLBACK will help you maintain control over your data and ensure that your transactions are executed correctly.
Learn More: SQL: A Full Fledged Guide from Basics to Advanced Level
A. If you don’t use COMMIT, the changes made in the transaction will not be saved and will be lost once the session ends or a ROLLBACK is issued.
A. No, once a COMMIT is issued, the changes are permanent and cannot be undone with ROLLBACK.
A. ROLLBACK undoes all changes made in the transaction, while SAVEPOINT allows you to set a point within a transaction to which you can later roll back.
A. In auto-commit mode, every individual SQL statement is treated as a transaction and is automatically committed right after it is executed.
A. Not necessarily. These commands are used for managing explicit transactions. In auto-commit mode, each SQL statement is committed automatically.
Sabreena Basheer is an architect-turned-writer who's passionate about documenting anything that interests her. She's currently exploring the world of AI and Data Science as a Content Manager at Analytics Vidhya.
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