The PostgreSQL rollback command is a tool for maintaining data integrity within PostgreSQL databases. This command allows users to undo changes made during a transaction and ensuring that any errors or unexpected issues do not compromise the databases accuracy.
By utilizing the rollback transaction in PostgreSQL, you can easily revert to a previous state when needed. In this article, We will learn practical PostgreSQL rollback examples and explain how to rollback in PostgreSQL.
What is ROLLBACK in PostgreSQL?
- In PostgreSQL,
ROLLBACK
is a command used to undo all changes made during a transaction.
- If we start a transaction and perform several operations (like inserting or updating data) but something goes wrong then the
ROLLBACK
will cancel all those changes and bring the database back to its previous state.
- It’s like hitting an "undo" button, ensuring that no partial or incorrect data is saved.
Importance of Transactions and PostgreSQL ROLLBACK
- Transactions group multiple operations into one unit, ensuring that either all the changes succeed or none are applied.
- This is important to maintain data accuracy and integrity.
- The
ROLLBACK
command is essential because it allows you to discard all changes made in a transaction if there’s an error, preventing incorrect or incomplete data from being committed to the database.
- It ensures your database stays consistent even when something goes wrong.
How ROLLBACK
Works in PostgreSQL?
When we start a transaction using BEGIN
, all subsequent operations are kept in a temporary state. If everything goes well, you can save the changes using COMMIT
. However, if there’s an issue we can use ROLLBACK
to undo all the operations made during the transaction.
After ROLLBACK
, the database returns to the state it was in before the transaction started, and no changes are applied. This helps prevent errors and keeps our data clean.
Example of PostgreSQL ROLLBACK
To understand the importance of the ROLLBACK command in PostgreSQL , let's first build a table for examples.
CREATE TABLE BankStatements (
customer_id serial PRIMARY KEY,
full_name VARCHAR NOT NULL,
balance INT
);
Now we will insert data of some customers
INSERT INTO BankStatements (
customer_id ,
full_name,
balance
)
VALUES
(1, 'Sekhar rao', 1000),
(2, 'Abishek Yadav', 500),
(3, 'Srinivas Goud', 1000);
Now as the table is ready we will understand about commit.
Example 1: Using COMMIT in a Transaction
We will add the data to the table in the transaction using the COMMIT
BEGIN;
INSERT INTO BankStatements (
customer_id,
full_name,
balance
)
VALUES
( 4, 'Priya chetri', 500 );
SELECT * FROM BankStatements;
COMMIT;
SELECT * FROM BankStatements;
Output:

Explanation: In this example, the changes are permanently saved to the database after the COMMIT
command.
Example 2: Using ROLLBACK in a Transaction
In this example, we'll update the balances of two customers and then use the ROLLBACK
command to undo the changes.
BEGIN;
UPDATE BankStatements
SET balance = balance - 500
WHERE
customer_id = 1;
-- displaying data before
-- committing the transaction
SELECT customer_id, full_name, balance
FROM BankStatements;
UPDATE BankStatements
SET balance = balance + 500
WHERE
customer_id = 2;
ROLLBACK;
-- displaying data after
-- committing the transaction
SELECT customer_id, full_name, balance
FROM BankStatements;
Output:

Explanation: in this example, the changes are reverted to the original state after the ROLLBACK
command.
Important Points about ROLLBACK command in PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL ROLLBACK
command is to undo changes made during a transaction. If a transaction encounters an error or needs to be reverted for any reason, ROLLBACK
can restore the database to its state before the transaction began.
- Always use transactions (
BEGIN
, COMMIT
, ROLLBACK
) when performing multiple related operations on a database.
- Test your transactions thoroughly to ensure that they behave as expected in both
COMMIT
and ROLLBACK
scenarios.
ROLLBACK
helps maintain data integrity by ensuring that only fully successful transactions are applied to the database.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the PostgreSQL rollback command is essential for effective database management. It allow users to maintain data consistency by allowing for the reversion of unwanted changes made during transactions. Mastering how to rollback in PostgreSQL can significantly enhance the reliability of your database operations. With clear PostgreSQL rollback examples provided, users can confidently implement these commands to ensure the accuracy and integrity of their data while effectively handling errors and maintaining a stable database environment.
Similar Reads
SQL Tutorial Structured Query Language (SQL) is the standard language used to interact with relational databases. Mainly used to manage data. Whether you want to create, delete, update or read data, SQL provides the structure and commands to perform these operations. Widely supported across various database syst
8 min read
SQL Commands | DDL, DQL, DML, DCL and TCL Commands SQL commands are the fundamental building blocks for communicating with a database management system (DBMS). It is used to interact with the database with some operations. It is also used to perform specific tasks, functions, and queries of data. SQL can perform various tasks like creating a table,
7 min read
Non-linear Components In electrical circuits, Non-linear Components are electronic devices that need an external power source to operate actively. Non-Linear Components are those that are changed with respect to the voltage and current. Elements that do not follow ohm's law are called Non-linear Components. Non-linear Co
11 min read
Spring Boot Tutorial Spring Boot is a Java framework that makes it easier to create and run Java applications. It simplifies the configuration and setup process, allowing developers to focus more on writing code for their applications. This Spring Boot Tutorial is a comprehensive guide that covers both basic and advance
10 min read
Normal Forms in DBMS In the world of database management, Normal Forms are important for ensuring that data is structured logically, reducing redundancy, and maintaining data integrity. When working with databases, especially relational databases, it is critical to follow normalization techniques that help to eliminate
7 min read
Class Diagram | Unified Modeling Language (UML) A UML class diagram is a visual tool that represents the structure of a system by showing its classes, attributes, methods, and the relationships between them. It helps everyone involved in a projectâlike developers and designersâunderstand how the system is organized and how its components interact
12 min read
Decorators in Python In Python, decorators are a powerful and flexible way to modify or extend the behavior of functions or methods, without changing their actual code. A decorator is essentially a function that takes another function as an argument and returns a new function with enhanced functionality. Decorators are
10 min read
Python Variables In Python, variables are used to store data that can be referenced and manipulated during program execution. A variable is essentially a name that is assigned to a value. Unlike many other programming languages, Python variables do not require explicit declaration of type. The type of the variable i
6 min read
Spring Boot Interview Questions and Answers Spring Boot is a Java-based framework used to develop stand-alone, production-ready applications with minimal configuration. Introduced by Pivotal in 2014, it simplifies the development of Spring applications by offering embedded servers, auto-configuration, and fast startup. Many top companies, inc
15+ min read
Top 60 DBMS Interview Questions with Answers for 2025 A Database Management System (DBMS) is the backbone of modern data storage and management. Understanding DBMS concepts is critical for anyone looking to work with databases. Whether you're preparing for your first job in database management or advancing in your career, being well-prepared for a DBMS
15+ min read