What term describes the finalization of a transaction in a database?

The term that describes the finalization of a transaction in a database is "Commit." When a transaction is committed, it means that all the operations within that transaction are completed successfully, and the changes made to the database are permanent. This process ensures that the data remains consistent and reliable.

Committing a transaction is crucial because it signifies that all intended updates, insertions, or deletions have been validated and are now part of the database state. After a commit, other transactions can see these changes, allowing for proper synchronization and data integrity.

In contrast, when a transaction is rolled back, it undoes any changes made during that transaction, reverting the database to its previous state. A save point allows a user to set a specific point within a transaction that they can roll back to without affecting the entire transaction. An abort terminates a transaction without committing any changes, similar to a rollback but typically initiated because of an error or user decision to cancel the operation. Understanding these different terms emphasizes the importance of managing transactions effectively in database management systems.