Explain the difference between a nonrepeatable read and a phantom. Specifically, give an example of a schedule of the SQL statements of two transactions that illustrate the two cases. Specify an isolation level in each case.

What will be an ideal response?


To illustrate a non-repeatable read consider two transactions running at READ COMMITTED:


SELECT1(get sum of balances in all of Mary’s accts);
UPDATE2(post interest in all accts);
Commit2;
SELECT1(get sum of balances in all of Mary’s accts);
To illustrate a phantom consider two transactions running at REPEATABLE READ:
SELECT1(get sum of balances in all of Mary’s accts);
INSERT1(newaccount for Mary);
COMMIT2;
SELECT1(get sum of balances in all of Mary’s accts);


In the first case, the second SELECT returns the same set of tuples as the first, but their values have changed. In the second case, the second SELECT returns a newtuple that satisfies the read predicate, but the values of the old tuples that satisfy that predicate have not changed.

Computer Science & Information Technology

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