What is the primary purpose of Online Transactional Processing (OLTP)?

The primary purpose of Online Transactional Processing (OLTP) is to facilitate the live capture and processing of transaction data. OLTP systems are designed to manage real-time transactions efficiently, ensuring that data is continuously updated and readily available for immediate retrieval. This system is crucial in environments where transactions occur frequently, such as banking, sales, and online shopping, where quick responses and accurate data handling are essential.

Real-time processing is a defining characteristic of OLTP systems, allowing them to handle a high volume of short online transactions. Each transaction is processed individually, leading to data integrity and reliability. Unlike systems designed for historical data analysis or complex queries, OLTP focuses on immediate data manipulation, making it integral to day-to-day operations in many organizations. This responsiveness contrasts with alternatives aimed at data warehousing or analytics, which do not prioritize live processing of transactions.