What is a transaction and explain ACID properties?
Defines a transaction and details Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability guarantees.
Why Interviewers Ask This
Transactions ensure reliable data processing. Interviewers want to confirm you understand how to maintain data integrity during failures or concurrent access.
How to Answer This Question
Define a transaction as a sequence of operations treated as a single unit. Explain ACID: Atomicity (all or nothing), Consistency (valid state), Isolation (no interference), Durability (permanent). Use banking transfer as an example.
Key Points to Cover
- Transaction definition
- ACID breakdown
- Reliability assurance
- Failure handling
Sample Answer
A transaction is a logical unit of work where all steps succeed or none do. ACID properties ensure reliability: Atomicity guarantees completeness, Consistency maintains valid states, Isolation prevents interference between concurrent transactions, and Durability ensures changes persist even after a crash. This is vital for financial applications.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Misinterpreting Isolation levels
- Confusing Durability with Backup
- Ignoring concurrency issues
Practice This Question with AI
Answer this question orally or via text and get instant AI-powered feedback on your response quality, structure, and delivery.
Related Interview Questions
What is ER model in the DBMS?
Medium
FlipkartWhat is database normalization and why is it important?
Medium
FlipkartWhat is the difference between LIKE and equals operators in SQL?
Easy
TCSWhat is the difference between DELETE and TRUNCATE commands in SQL?
Easy
FlipkartWhat is the difference between authentication and authorization?
Easy
FlipkartHow do you prioritize tasks when multiple deadlines are approaching?
Medium
Flipkart