Distributed transactions, also known as XA transactions, emerged to address the complexity of coordinating transactions across multiple databases or systems in a distributed environment. Imagine you’re conducting an orchestra where each musician represents a different database or service. Just like ensuring harmony in music requires precise coordination, maintaining transactional integrity across distributed systems demands careful orchestration.
This is where a two-phase commit (2PC), a vital aspect of XA transactions, steps in. 2PC acts as the conductor, ensuring that all musicians (or database participants) are ready to commit before the final note is played. Just as every instrument must be in tune before a symphony reaches its crescendo, 2PC ensures that all components of a distributed transaction are in sync before proceeding, thus guaranteeing the integrity of the transaction across the distributed landscape.