What is the main purpose of using transactions in database management systems?

The main goal of using transactions in database management systems is to ensure the integrity and consistency of data when executing multiple related operations. A transaction guarantees that all operations within it are either fully completed (commit) or not applied at all (rollback) if an error occurs. This prevents partial data updates and helps avoid inconsistent database states.

The key properties of transactions are described by the acronym ACID:

• Atomicity: all operations of a transaction are executed as a single unit.
• Consistency: a transaction transitions the database from one correct state to another.
• Isolation: concurrent transactions do not affect each other.
• Durability: after a change is committed, it is preserved even in case of failures.