Transactions

The Java SDK supports client-side transactions for grouping multiple queries into an atomic unit. All queries within a Transaction are isolated from other operations and are either applied together on commit or discarded entirely on cancel.

API References

Starting a transaction

The .beginTransaction() method returns a Transaction object. All queries executed through this object are isolated until the transaction is committed or cancelled.

Transaction tx = db.beginTransaction();

Executing queries in a transaction

The tx.query() method works like db.query() but executes within the transaction scope. Each call returns a Response that you can inspect immediately, but the underlying changes are not visible outside the transaction until it is committed.

Transaction tx = db.beginTransaction();
tx.query("CREATE account:one SET balance = 100");
tx.query("CREATE account:two SET balance = 0");

Committing a transaction

Call .commit() to apply all changes atomically. Once committed, the changes become visible to other connections and queries.

tx.commit();

Cancelling a transaction

Call .cancel() to discard all changes made within the transaction. Use a try-catch pattern to ensure the transaction is rolled back if any query fails.

Transaction tx = db.beginTransaction();
try {
    tx.query("CREATE account:one SET balance = 100");
    tx.query("CREATE account:two SET balance = 0");
    tx.query("UPDATE account:one SET balance -= 50");
    tx.query("UPDATE account:two SET balance += 50");
    tx.commit();
} catch (SurrealException e) {
    tx.cancel();
    throw e;
}

Learn more

• Transaction API reference for complete method signatures

• Executing queries for query execution outside transactions

• Error handling for handling transaction errors

• SurrealQL BEGIN for server-side transaction syntax

• SurrealQL COMMIT and CANCEL for transaction control