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What is PostgreSQL’s MVCC and how does it enable concurrent reads and writes?

Mid PostgreSQL
Quick Answer MVCC (Multi-Version Concurrency Control) lets readers and writers proceed concurrently without blocking each other. When a row is updated, PostgreSQL creates a new version (tuple) with a new transaction ID, keeping the old version for concurrent readers. Each transaction sees a consistent snapshot of the data as of when it started. No read locks needed - readers never block writers and vice versa.

Answer

MVCC gives each transaction a snapshot of the database. PostgreSQL stores multiple row versions with transaction IDs, allowing readers and writers to work without blocking each other.
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This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.

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