---
name: "start_transaction"
section: "7"
platform: "linux"
package: "postgresql"
version: "7.4.7-6sarge6"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/start_transaction"
---

# start\_transaction(7)

start a transaction block

## NAME

START TRANSACTION - start a transaction block

## SYNOPSIS

```
START TRANSACTION [ ISOLATION LEVEL { READ COMMITTED | SERIALIZABLE } ] [ READ WRITE | READ ONLY ]

```

## DESCRIPTION

This command begins a new transaction. If the isolation level or read/write mode is specified, the new transaction has those characteristics, as if SET TRANSACTION \[[**set\_transaction**(7)](/set_transaction/7.md)\] was executed. In all other respects, the behavior of this command is identical to the BEGIN \[[**begin**(7)](/begin/7.md)\] command.

## PARAMETERS

See under SET TRANSACTION \[[**set\_transaction**(7)](/set_transaction/7.md)\] about the meaning of the parameters.

## COMPATIBILITY

This command conforms to the SQL standard; but see also the compatibility section of SET TRANSACTION \[[**set\_transaction**(7)](/set_transaction/7.md)\].

## SEE ALSO

BEGIN \[[**begin**(7)](/begin/7.md)\], COMMIT \[**commit**(l)\], ROLLBACK \[**rollback**(l)\], SET TRANSACTION \[**set\_transaction**(l)\]