What is the difference between Firestore transactions and batch writes?

What is the difference between Firestore transactions and batch writes?

Firestore transactions are used for atomic operations on multiple documents, ensuring all or none succeed. Batch writes allow multiple write operations to be sent in a single request but don't provide atomicity.

Can you give me an example of when to use a transaction?

Sure! Use a transaction when you need to read a document, make a decision based on its data, and then update it. For instance, updating a user's balance only if they have enough funds.

And when should I use batch writes instead?

Batch writes are ideal when you want to perform multiple write operations without needing to read any documents first. For example, adding multiple users to a collection at once.

Are there any limitations to using transactions?

Yes, transactions can only operate on documents within the same Firestore database and are limited to 500 document reads and writes per transaction.