ACID properties: a transaction where either all individual actions occur or none occur exemplifies which property?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: atomic

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
ACID is the cornerstone of reliable transaction processing. This question focuses on identifying the property that enforces the “all-or-nothing” execution semantics.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • A transaction comprises multiple database actions.
  • On success, all effects persist; on failure, none persist.


Concept / Approach:
Atomicity guarantees that a transaction is indivisible: either it fully commits or it fully rolls back. The other ACID properties are consistency (state validity), isolation (concurrency safety), and durability (survival of committed data).



Step-by-Step Solution:

Match “all or none” to the ACID property definitions.Atomicity is the only property that enforces all-or-nothing behavior.Select “atomic.”


Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a money transfer (debit and credit). Atomicity ensures both operations happen together or neither does.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Consistent: ensures integrity constraints hold before/after the transaction.
  • Isolated: controls interference among concurrent transactions.
  • Durable: ensures committed results survive failures.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing durability (post-commit persistence) with atomicity (commit as a single unit).



Final Answer:
atomic

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