What does the isolation property in data integrity guarantee?

The isolation property in data integrity ensures that each transaction is executed independently of others. This is a crucial concept in database management systems, particularly in the context of transactions, where multiple operations must be performed consistently and reliably.

By enforcing isolation, the system guarantees that the operations within a transaction cannot be interfered with by other transactions that may be executing simultaneously. This prevents access collisions, where two transactions might attempt to read or write the same data, potentially leading to inconsistencies or errors. As a result, if one transaction is in progress, other transactions are temporarily held in a waiting state or executed in a manner that maintains data integrity.

Isolation is one of the key properties of ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) transactions, which collectively ensure reliable processing of database transactions. It plays a critical role in maintaining data accuracy and consistency, especially in environments where high concurrency is common.

Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the importance of isolation in maintaining the integrity and consistency of transactions, preventing unintended interactions that could compromise the data.