SAVEPOINT Statement

The SAVEPOINT statement names and marks the current point in the processing of a transaction. With the ROLLBACK TO statement, savepoints let you undo parts of a transaction instead of the whole transaction. For more information, see "Overview of Transaction Processing in PL/SQL".

Syntax

Text description of the illustration savepoint_statement.gif

Keyword and Parameter Description

savepoint_name

This is an undeclared identifier, which marks the current point in the processing of a transaction.

Usage Notes

When you roll back to a savepoint, any savepoints marked after that savepoint are erased. However, the savepoint to which you roll back is not erased. A simple rollback or commit erases all savepoints. Savepoint names can be reused within a transaction. This moves the savepoint from its old position to the current point in the transaction.

If you mark a savepoint within a recursive subprogram, new instances of the SAVEPOINT statement are executed at each level in the recursive descent. However, you can only roll back to the most recently marked savepoint.

An implicit savepoint is marked before executing an INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statement. If the statement fails, a rollback to the implicit savepoint is done. Normally, just the failed SQL statement is rolled back, not the whole transaction. However, if the statement raises an unhandled exception, the host environment determines what is rolled back.

Related Topics

COMMIT Statement, ROLLBACK Statement