What are the different SQL isolation levels and their examples?

Can you explain the different SQL isolation levels?

Sure! SQL isolation levels define how transaction integrity is visible to other transactions. The main levels are Read Uncommitted, Read Committed, Repeatable Read, and Serializable.

What happens in the Read Uncommitted level?

In Read Uncommitted, transactions can read data that has been modified but not yet committed by other transactions, leading to dirty reads.

And what about Serializable?

Serializable is the strictest level. It ensures complete isolation by making transactions appear as if they are executed one after another, preventing phantom reads.

Can you give an example of when to use each level?

Certainly! Use Read Uncommitted for reporting where performance is critical, Read Committed for general use, Repeatable Read for scenarios needing consistency, and Serializable for critical transactions requiring full isolation.