Are PostgreSQL functions transactional?

Question

Is a PostgreSQL function such as the following automatically transactional?

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION refresh_materialized_view(name)
  RETURNS integer AS
$BODY$
 DECLARE
     _table_name ALIAS FOR $1;
     _entry materialized_views%ROWTYPE;
     _result INT;
 BEGIN          

     EXECUTE 'TRUNCATE TABLE ' || _table_name;

     UPDATE materialized_views
     SET    last_refresh = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
     WHERE  table_name = _table_name;

     RETURN 1;
END
$BODY$
  LANGUAGE plpgsql VOLATILE SECURITY DEFINER;

In other words, if an error occurs during the execution of the function, will any changes be rolled back? If this isn't the default behavior, how can I make the function transactional?

Answer 1

PostgreSQL 12 update: there is limited support for top-level PROCEDUREs that can do transaction control. You still cannot manage transactions in regular SQL-callable functions, so the below remains true except when using the new top-level procedures.

---

Functions are part of the transaction they're called from. Their effects are rolled back if the transaction rolls back. Their work commits if the transaction commits. Any BEGIN ... EXCEPT blocks within the function operate like (and under the hood use) savepoints like the SAVEPOINT and ROLLBACK TO SAVEPOINT SQL statements.

The function either succeeds in its entirety or fails in its entirety, barring BEGIN ... EXCEPT error handling. If an error is raised within the function and not handled, the transaction calling the function is aborted. Aborted transactions cannot commit, and if they try to commit the COMMIT is treated as ROLLBACK, same as for any other transaction in error. Observe:

regress=# BEGIN;
BEGIN
regress=# SELECT 1/0;
ERROR:  division by zero
regress=# COMMIT;
ROLLBACK

See how the transaction, which is in the error state due to the zero division, rolls back on COMMIT?

If you call a function without an explicit surounding transaction the rules are exactly the same as for any other Pg statement:

BEGIN;
SELECT refresh_materialized_view(name);
COMMIT;

(where COMMIT will fail if the SELECT raised an error).

PostgreSQL does not (yet) support autonomous transactions in functions, where the procedure/function could commit/rollback independently of the calling transaction. This can be simulated using a new session via dblink.

BUT, things that aren't transactional or are imperfectly transactional exist in PostgreSQL. If it has non-transactional behaviour in a normal BEGIN; do stuff; COMMIT; block, it has non-transactional behaviour in a function too. For example, nextval and setval, TRUNCATE, etc.