START TRANSACTION

Function

START TRANSACTION starts a transaction. If the isolation level, read/write mode, or deferrable mode is specified, a new transaction will have those characteristics. You can also specify them using SET TRANSACTION.

Precautions

None

Syntax

Format 1: START TRANSACTION

START TRANSACTION
  [
    {
       ISOLATION LEVEL { READ COMMITTED | READ UNCOMMITTED | SERIALIZABLE | REPEATABLE READ }
       | { READ WRITE | READ ONLY }
     } [, ...]
  ];

Format 2: BEGIN

BEGIN [ WORK | TRANSACTION ]
  [
    {
       ISOLATION LEVEL { READ COMMITTED | READ UNCOMMITTED | SERIALIZABLE | REPEATABLE READ }
       | { READ WRITE | READ ONLY }
      } [, ...]
  ];

Parameter Description

  • WORK | TRANSACTION

    Optional keyword in BEGIN format without functions.

  • ISOLATION LEVEL

    Specifies the transaction isolation level that determines the data that a transaction can view if other concurrent transactions exist.

    Note

    The isolation level of a transaction cannot be reset after the first clause (INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, FETCH, COPY) for modifying data is executed in the transaction.

    Valid value:

    • READ COMMITTED: Only committed data is read. This is the default.

    • READ UNCOMMITTED: GaussDB(DWS) does not support READ UNCOMMITTED. If READ UNCOMMITTED is set, READ COMMITTED is executed instead.

    • REPEATABLE READ: Only the data committed before transaction start is read. Uncommitted data or data committed in other concurrent transactions cannot be read.

    • SERIALIZABLE: GaussDB(DWS) does not support SERIALIZABLE. If SERIALIZABLE is set, REPEATABLE READ is executed instead.

  • READ WRITE | READ ONLY

    Specifies the transaction access mode (read/write or read only).

Examples

  • Start a transaction in default mode.

    START TRANSACTION;
    SELECT * FROM tpcds.reason;
    END;
    
  • Start a transaction with the isolation level being READ COMMITTED and the access mode being READ WRITE:

    START TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED READ WRITE;
    SELECT * FROM tpcds.reason;
    COMMIT;