Programming .NET Windows Applications

Updating Data with Transactions

An important feature of most industrial-strength databases is support for transactions. A transaction is a set of database operations that must all complete or fail together. That is, either all operations must complete successfully (commit the transaction), or all must be undone (roll back the transaction) to leave the database in the state it was in before the transaction began.

The canonical transaction is depositing a check. If you receive a check for $50 and you deposit it, you and the check writer both expect that once the bank transaction is completed, your account will have increased by $50 and the check writer's will have decreased by $50. Presumably the bank computer accomplishes this transaction in two steps:

1. Reduce the check writer's account by $50.

2. Increase your account by $50.

If the system fails between steps 1 and 2, or for any reason your account cannot be increased by $50, the transaction should be rolled back; that is, it should fail as a whole (neither account should be affected).

If the check writer's account is reduced by $50 and your account is not increased, then the database has become corrupted. This should never be allowed, and it is the job of transactions to ensure that either both actions are taken or neither is.

Tip

The remaining alternative, in which the check writer's account is not decreased but yours is increased, may be a happy outcome for you ("Bank Error In Your Favor — Collect $50"), but the bank would not be pleased. ...