The transaction concept: virtues and limitations
Jim Gray · 1988
ABSTRACT: A traDsac:tion is a transformation of state which has the properties of atomicity (all or nothing), durability (effeets survive failures) and consistency (a correet transformation). The trans-action concept is key to the structuring of data management applications. The concept may have applicability to programming systems in generaL This paper restates the transaction concepts and attempts to put several implementation approaches in perspective. It then describes some areas which require further study: (1) the integration of the transaction concept with the notion of abstraet data type, (2) some teehDiques to allow transactions to be composed of sub-transactions, and (3) handling traDsac:tions which last for extremely long times (days or months).