txcommit

txcommit is a term encountered in various transaction-processing contexts, generally referring to the finalization step of a transaction. It is not a single, standardized protocol, but a generic label that may appear as a function name, a protocol message, or a state in a transaction’s lifecycle. The exact meaning can vary by system, but it is typically associated with making all transactional changes durable and visible.

In database systems, a commit operation completes a transaction, applying all changes made during its execution and releasing any resources or locks held. Commit is commonly implemented through a log-based mechanism such as a write-ahead log, which records the intention to commit so that the system can recover consistently after a crash. A transactional database will ensure properties such as atomicity and durability as part of the commit process, preventing partial updates from becoming visible.

In distributed or multi-participant environments, txcommit often relates to the final phase of a commit protocol, such as two-phase commit or three-phase commit. In these schemes, a coordinator gathers votes or acknowledgments from participants and issues a commit instruction once it is safe to apply the transaction. The txcommit step thus signals all involved systems to make their changes permanent in a synchronized fashion.

In software libraries and APIs, txcommit may be exposed as a function or method name that triggers the commit of a previously started transaction. The exact semantics—such as error handling, rollback on failure, and durability guarantees—depend on the particular framework or database.

See also: transaction, commit, ACID, two-phase commit, durability.