Key characteristics of Transaction Processing Systems

1. Real-time Processing

TPS systems are designed to process transactions in real-time or near real-time. This means that as soon as a transaction occurs, the system processes it immediately.

2. Concurrency Control

TPS must ensure that multiple transactions can occur simultaneously without causing data inconsistencies. Concurrency control mechanisms are put in place to manage this.

3. Atomicity

Transactions are treated as atomic units, meaning that they are either fully completed or fully undone in the event of a failure. This is often expressed by the acronym ACID, where “A” stands for atomicity.

4. Consistency

The system ensures that transactions bring the database from one valid state to another. Inconsistencies are not allowed, and the database must maintain its integrity.

5. Isolation

Transactions are processed independently of each other to prevent interference. Each transaction should operate as if it is the only transaction in the system.

6. Durability

Once a transaction is committed, the changes made to the database are permanent and survive subsequent system failures. This ensures the long-term reliability of the data.

7. High Throughput

TPS are designed to handle a large number of transactions efficiently, making them suitable for organizations with high transaction volumes.