Wait Type XACTLOCKINFO

Wait statistics, in the context of SQL Server, refer to the amount of time that a query spends waiting to access data in the database. When a client application requests data from the database, the request is placed in a queue and the client application must wait for its turn to access the data. The time that the query spends waiting is called a "wait" and is tracked by SQL Server. This information can be used to identify potential performance bottlenecks and optimize the performance of the database. Wait statistics are commonly used by database administrators to diagnose and troubleshoot performance issues in SQL Server.

A XACTLOCKINFO wait type in SQL Server occurs when a process is waiting for a lock on a resource to be released in order to complete a transaction.

In SQL Server, a transaction is a unit of work that is performed on the database. It allows you to make multiple changes to the database as a single unit, either committing all the changes or rolling them back if any of the changes fail. Transactions ensure data consistency and integrity by making sure that either all the changes are made or none of them are.

To ensure the integrity of transactions, SQL Server uses locks to prevent other processes from accessing the same resources that are being modified within a transaction. If a process tries to access a resource that is locked by another process's transaction, it may have to wait for the lock to be released, resulting in a XACTLOCKINFO wait type.

There are a few potential causes for XACTLOCKINFO wait types:

1. Long-running transactions: If a transaction takes a long time to complete, it may cause a XACTLOCKINFO wait type as other processes wait for the lock to be released.

2. Contention for resources: If multiple processes are trying to access the same resource simultaneously, it may result in a XACTLOCKINFO wait type as they all try to acquire the lock.

3. Deadlocks: A deadlock is a situation where two or more processes are waiting for each other to release a lock, resulting in a standstill. This can cause a XACTLOCKINFO wait type as each process waits for the other to release the lock.

To troubleshoot XACTLOCKINFO wait types, you can use the SQL Server Profiler tool to identify the cause of the wait type and take appropriate action to resolve it. This may involve optimizing queries, increasing system resources, or modifying the application logic to avoid contention for resources.

In summary, a XACTLOCKINFO wait type in SQL Server indicates that a process is waiting for a lock on a resource to be released in order to complete a transaction. It can be caused by long-running transactions, contention for resources, or deadlocks, and can be troubleshooted using the SQL Server Profiler tool.

Applies to

See Also

• More About XACTLOCKINFO