ITIL 4 Foundation Practice Exam

What is a transaction in system terms?

1. A detailed report of system performance

2. A unit of work involving exchanges between participants

3. A document outlining system requirements

4. A notification sent to system users

The correct answer is: A unit of work involving exchanges between participants

A transaction, in system terms, refers to a unit of work that involves exchanges between participants. This definition highlights the core function of a transaction, which is about carrying out a specific task or set of tasks that usually involves at least two entities, such as systems, users, or processes, and ensures that an action occurs reliably and consistently. Transactions are critical in various systems, particularly in databases and software applications, where they ensure that operations such as adding, updating, or deleting data occur without errors and can either commit or roll back changes to maintain data integrity. For example, in a banking application, transferring money from one account to another represents a transaction that must ensure both accounts reflect the correct balances after the operation. The other choices do not align with the established understanding of a transaction in systems. While a detailed report of system performance provides insights into how a system operates, it does not encapsulate the concept of transactions. A document outlining system requirements focuses on what is needed from a system but does not represent an action taken or exchanged. A notification sent to system users refers to communication rather than an exchange or work unit, which does not define the transactional concept.