---
layout: default
description: This function implements theHTTP API for transactions
---

# Transactions

This function implements the
[HTTP API for transactions](../http/transaction.html).

## database.transaction

`async database.transaction(collections, action, [params, [options]]): Object`

Performs a server-side transaction and returns its return value.

**Arguments**

- **collections**: `Object`

  An object with the following properties:

  - **read**: `Array<string>` (optional)

    An array of names (or a single name) of collections that will be read from
    during the transaction.

  - **write**: `Array<string>` (optional)

    An array of names (or a single name) of collections that will be written to
    or read from during the transaction.

- **action**: `string`

  A string evaluating to a JavaScript function to be executed on the server.

  {% hint 'warning' %}
  This function will be executed on the server inside ArangoDB and can not use
  the arangojs driver or any variables other than those passed as _params_.
  For accessing the database from within ArangoDB, see the documentation for the
  [`@arangodb` module in ArangoDB](../appendix-java-script-modules-arango-db.html).
  {% endhint %}

- **params**: `Object` (optional)

  Available as variable `params` when the _action_ function is being executed on
  server. Check the example below.

- **options**: `Object` (optional)

  An object with any of the following properties:

  - **lockTimeout**: `number` (optional)

    Determines how long the database will wait while attempting to gain locks on
    collections used by the transaction before timing out.

  - **waitForSync**: `boolean` (optional)

    Determines whether to force the transaction to write all data to disk before returning.

  - **maxTransactionSize**: `number` (optional)

    Determines the transaction size limit in bytes. Honored by the RocksDB storage engine only.

  - **intermediateCommitCount**: `number` (optional)

    Determines the maximum number of operations after which an intermediate commit is
    performed automatically. Honored by the RocksDB storage engine only.

  - **intermediateCommitSize**: `number` (optional)

    Determine the maximum total size of operations after which an intermediate commit is
    performed automatically. Honored by the RocksDB storage engine only.

If _collections_ is an array or string, it will be treated as
_collections.write_.

Please note that while _action_ should be a string evaluating to a well-formed
JavaScript function, it's not possible to pass in a JavaScript function directly
because the function needs to be evaluated on the server and will be transmitted
in plain text.

For more information on transactions, see the
[HTTP API documentation for transactions](../http/transaction.html).

**Examples**

```js
const db = new Database();
const action = String(function(params) {
  // This code will be executed inside ArangoDB!
  const db = require("@arangodb").db;
  return db
    ._query(
      aql`
    FOR user IN _users
    FILTER user.age > ${params.age}
    RETURN u.user
  `
    )
    .toArray();
});

const result = await db.transaction({ read: "_users" }, action, { age: 12 });
// result contains the return value of the action
```