What is atomicity in databases?

Can you explain what atomicity means in the context of databases?

Atomicity is a property of database transactions that ensures they are all-or-nothing. If a transaction fails, the database state remains unchanged.

Can you give me an example of atomicity in action?

Sure! Imagine a bank transfer: if you transfer money from Account A to Account B, both actions (debiting A and crediting B) must succeed together. If one fails, the entire transaction is rolled back.

What happens if atomicity is not maintained?

Without atomicity, you could end up with money debited from one account but not credited to another, leading to inconsistencies.

Are there any real-world systems that implement atomicity?

Yes, most relational database management systems like MySQL and PostgreSQL implement atomicity to ensure data integrity.