Question

What is the difference between serializable and repeatable read isolation level? Can anyone please give a simple example.

Answer 1

Summary:

In a Repeatable Read isolation level, new rows can be inserted into the dataset.

In a Serializable isolation level, all the rows are locked for the duration of the transaction, no insert, update or delete is allowed.

Please refer to these for examples and explanations.

^{Original links are broken — Wayback Machine links are from the same day and time.}

Isolation Level — serializable

http://beyondrelational.com/modules/2/blogs/28/posts/10467/sql-server-transaction-isolation-level-serializable.aspx

Wayback Machine SQL Server Transaction Level Serializable

Isolation Level — repeatable-read

http://beyondrelational.com/modules/2/blogs/28/posts/10466/sql-server-transaction-isolation-level-repeatable-read.aspx

Wayback Machine SQL Server Transaction Level Repeatable Read