Distributed Databases Questions Medium
A distributed transaction in a distributed database system refers to a transaction that involves multiple nodes or databases that are geographically distributed. It is a transaction that spans across multiple sites or databases, where each site may have its own local database management system (DBMS).
In a distributed transaction, the transactional operations are executed on multiple nodes simultaneously or in a coordinated manner. These operations can include read, write, update, or delete operations on the data stored in the distributed databases.
The main objective of a distributed transaction is to ensure that all the operations within the transaction are executed atomically, consistently, isolated, and durably across all the participating nodes. This means that either all the operations within the transaction are successfully completed, or none of them are applied, ensuring data integrity and consistency.
To achieve this, distributed transactions employ various protocols and techniques such as two-phase commit (2PC) protocol, three-phase commit (3PC) protocol, or optimistic concurrency control. These protocols ensure that all the participating nodes agree on the outcome of the transaction and coordinate the commit or rollback process.
In summary, a distributed transaction in a distributed database system is a transaction that involves multiple nodes or databases, ensuring atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability across all the participating nodes. It allows for coordinated execution of operations on distributed data, maintaining data integrity and consistency.