How are OLTP transactions typically characterized in terms of size and processing time?

OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) transactions are typically characterized as small and generally completed within several seconds at most. These transactions involve a high volume of short, quick operations that focus on the insertion, updating, and deletion of small amounts of data.

This design is essential for OLTP systems, which often have to handle a large number of concurrent users engaging in numerous transactions simultaneously. Because of their nature, OLTP systems prioritize fast response times to ensure that transactions can be processed quickly and efficiently, minimizing wait times for end-users.

The focus on small, rapid transactions helps maintain high performance and system throughput, making OLTP systems suitable for applications like banking, retail, and online booking systems where immediate processing is critical.