How to Use Database Transactions Correctly in Go

Use db.BeginTx with a context to start a transaction, execute your queries, and then either Commit or Rollback based on the result.

ctx := context.Background()
tx, err := db.BeginTx(ctx, nil)
if err != nil {
    // handle error
}
defer tx.Rollback() // Rollback if Commit fails or panics

_, err = tx.ExecContext(ctx, "INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES (?)", "Alice")
if err != nil {
    return err // Rollback happens automatically via defer
}

return tx.Commit()

This pattern ensures that if any query fails, the defer statement rolls back the transaction, preventing partial data writes. If all queries succeed, Commit finalizes the changes and the defer becomes a no-op.

A database transaction groups multiple database operations into a single unit of work. It ensures that either all operations succeed together, or if any one fails, the entire group is undone, leaving the database unchanged. Think of it like a bank transfer: money is only removed from one account and added to another if both steps succeed; if the second step fails, the first step is reversed so no money is lost.