Explore key concepts behind ACID and BASE consistency models in database systems with this concise quiz. Gain clarity on the differences, properties, and typical use cases of each approach to strengthen your foundational understanding of data management strategies.
Which of the following is NOT one of the ACID properties in database systems?
Explanation: The ACID properties are Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability, ensuring reliable transactions in databases. 'Accessibility' is not part of ACID and is unrelated to transaction guarantees. The distractors—Atomicity, Consistency, and Isolation—are all core components of the ACID model. Accessibility does not address transactional integrity or system resilience.
In the context of BASE, what does the letter 'E' represent in the acronym?
Explanation: 'Eventual' is the correct answer, as BASE stands for Basically Available, Soft state, Eventual consistency. The 'E' does not stand for Essential, Everywhere, or Explicit, which are terms not related to this database model. While these distractors sound plausible, only 'Eventual' describes how consistency is eventually reached.
Which consistency model typically allows temporary data inconsistency to improve performance in distributed databases?
Explanation: BASE permits temporary inconsistencies by focusing on eventual consistency, which can improve scalability and performance in distributed systems. ACID, by contrast, enforces immediate consistency. CASE and PACE are not recognized database consistency models and serve as distractors. Only BASE offers eventual rather than strict consistency.
If a banking application must ensure that a transfer either fully succeeds or fails without partial completion, which model should it use?
Explanation: ACID provides atomicity, guaranteeing that transactions like money transfers are all-or-nothing. BASE, in contrast, allows for partial or eventual updates. ASCII is unrelated as a character encoding standard, and BASEE is a made-up option. Only ACID is appropriate for situations requiring strict transactional reliability.
Which scenario best suits a BASE-consistent system over an ACID-compliant one?
Explanation: BASE is suitable when eventual consistency is acceptable, like in a social media feed where some delay in updates is fine. The other scenarios—medical, financial, and airline systems—require strict consistency and reliability, for which ACID is better suited. These distractors need immediate consistency, which BASE does not provide.
After a successful transaction, which ACID property ensures the data remains saved even after a power failure?
Explanation: Durability ensures that once a transaction is committed, its data is safe even in case of a crash. Divisibility, Directness, and Dexterity are unrelated terms and not ACID properties. These other options do not refer to data safeguarding or persistence.
What does 'Soft State' mean in the context of BASE properties?
Explanation: 'Soft State' allows the database state to change over time, even without external updates, due to ongoing reconciliation. Instant synchronization and permanently fixed state contradict the concept of 'Soft State.' Encryption relates to security, not consistency. Only the first option correctly captures the flexibility inherent in BASE systems.
What does the Isolation property in ACID intend to prevent?
Explanation: Isolation ensures transactions run independently, avoiding side effects caused by concurrency. Loss of power is handled by durability, not isolation. Unauthorized access is a security concern, not a transaction property, and automatic backups are a separate data protection measure. Only transaction interference is directly addressed by isolation.
Which type of consistency is emphasized in BASE systems?
Explanation: BASE systems use eventual consistency, where all updates will propagate over time. Instant and strict consistency are expectations in ACID systems, not BASE. 'Random consistency' is not a recognized term in database theory. Eventual consistency best describes BASE's promise.
Which main benefit do BASE systems offer over ACID systems?
Explanation: BASE systems are often adopted because they can achieve higher availability and better scalability, especially in distributed systems. Synchronous updates and stronger integrity are ACID strengths, not BASE's. Real-time rollback is not a feature of BASE, making higher availability the correct reason.