Possible results of independent action

As mentioned earlier, not all independent actions are in opposition to the two-phase commit protocol. Independent actions can yield the following three possible results:
  • Successful completion of the two-phase commit protocol
  • An error condition
  • A heuristic decision

If the action is not in opposition to the two-phase protocol, the transaction either commits or rolls back normally. If the action ends the global transaction prematurely, an error condition results. Ending the global transaction at the coordinator is not considered a heuristic decision. If the action is in opposition to the two-phase commit protocol, a heuristic decision results. All these situations are explained in the sections that follow.