Skip to main content

Explain the Write-Ahead Logging (WAL) mechanism.

Mid MS SQL
Quick Answer WAL guarantees every change is written to the transaction log (WAL) before it's written to data pages. On crash, SQL Server replays committed log records (redo) and undoes uncommitted ones (undo). This makes the database consistent after a crash without data loss. Durability in ACID depends entirely on WAL.

Answer

Before modifying a data page, SQL writes the log record first. This ensures durability and crash recovery.

S
SugharaIQ Editorial Team Verified Answer

This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.

Want to bookmark, take notes, or join discussions?

Sign in to access all features and personalize your learning experience.

Sign In Create Account

Source: SugharaIQ

Ready to level up? Start Practice