Definition
An operation that completes entirely or not at all, with no in-between states visible to other processes. Like Schrödinger's database transaction—it's either done or not done, never halfway.
Example Usage
Make sure the payment processing is atomic—we can't have situations where we charge the card but don't create the order.
Origin
Borrowed from physics terminology (indivisible atom), formalized in database theory in the 1970s as part of ACID properties
Fun Fact
Ironically, atoms aren't actually atomic—they can be split. But atomic operations can't be, making computer scientists more correct than physicists on this one.
Source: Database theory and concurrent programming literature
Related Terms
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