BATCH

Combines multiple data modification language (DML) statements (such as INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE) to achieve atomicity and isolation when targeting a single partition, or only atomicity when targeting multiple partitions.

A batch applies all DML statements within a single partition before the data is available, ensuring atomicity and isolation. A well-constructed batch targeting a single partition can reduce client-server traffic and more efficiently update a table with a single row mutation.

For multiple partition batches, logging ensures that all DML statements are applied. Either all or none of the batch operations will succeed, ensuring atomicity. Batch isolation occurs only if the batch operation is writing to a single partition.

Optionally, a batch can apply a client-supplied timestamp. Before implementing or executing a batch see Batching inserts and updates.

Synopsis 

BEGIN [UNLOGGED | LOGGED] BATCH 
[USING TIMESTAMP [epoch_microseconds]]
   dml_statement [USING TIMESTAMP [epoch_microseconds]];
   [dml_statement; ...]
APPLY BATCH;

A batch can contain the following types of dml_statements:

• INSERT
• UPDATE
• DELETE

LOGGED | UNLOGGED 

If multiple partitions are involved, batches are logged by default. Running a batch with logging enabled ensures that either all or none of the batch operations will succeed, ensuring atomicity. Cassandra first writes the serialized batch to the batchlog system table that consumes the serialized batch as blob data. After Cassandra has successfully written and persisted (or hinted) the rows in the batch, it removes the batchlog data. There is a performance penalty associated with the batchlog, as it is written to two other nodes. Thresholds for warning about or failure due to batch size can be set.

If you do not want to incur a penalty for logging, run the batch operation without using the batchlog table by using the UNLOGGED keyword. Unlogged batching will issue a warning if too many operations or too many partitions are involved. Single partition batch operations are unlogged by default, and are the only unlogged batch operations recommended.

Although a logged batch enforces atomicity (that is, it guarantees if all DML statements in the batch succeed or none do), Cassandra does no other transactional enforcement at the batch level. For example, there is no batch isolation unless the batch operation is writing to a single partition. In multiple partition batch operations, clients are able to read the first updated rows from the batch, while other rows are still being updated on the server. In single partition batch operations, clients cannot read a partial update from any row until the batch is completed.

USING TIMESTAMPS 

Sets the write time for transactions executed in a BATCH.

Restriction: USING TIMESTAMP does not support LWT (lightweight transactions), such as DML statements that have an IF NOT EXISTS clause.

By default, Cassandra applies the same timestamp to all data modified by the batch; therefore statement order does not matter within a batch, thus a batch statement is not very useful for writing data that must be timestamped in a particular order. Use client-supplied timestamps to achieve a particular order.

User-defined timestamp

Specify the epoch time in micoseconds after USING TIMESTAMP:

USING TIMESTAMP [epoch_microseconds]

When the time is not specified, Cassandra inserts the current time.

Same timestamp for all DMLs

Insert on first line of batch.

BEGIN BATCH USING TIMESTAMP [epoch_microseconds]
   DML_statement1;
   DML_statement2;
   DML_statement3;
APPLY BATCH;

Individual transactions

Insert at the end of a DML:

BEGIN BATCH
   DML_statement1;
   DML_statement2 USING TIMESTAMP [epoch_microseconds];
   DML_statement3;
APPLY BATCH;

Examples 

BEGIN BATCH USING TIMESTAMP 1481124356754405
INSERT INTO cycling.cyclist_expenses 
   (cyclist_name, expense_id, amount, description, paid) 
   VALUES ('Vera ADRIAN', 2, 13.44, 'Lunch', true);
INSERT INTO cycling.cyclist_expenses 
   (cyclist_name, expense_id, amount, description, paid) 
   VALUES ('Vera ADRIAN', 3, 25.00, 'Dinner', true);
APPLY BATCH;

expand ON

SELECT cyclist_name, expense_id,
        amount, WRITETIME(amount),
        description, WRITETIME(description),
        paid,WRITETIME(paid)
   FROM cycling.cyclist_expenses
WHERE cyclist_name = 'Vera ADRIAN';

@ Row 1
------------------------+------------------
 cyclist_name           | Vera ADRIAN
 expense_id             | 2
 amount                 | 13.44
 writetime(amount)      | 1481124356754405
 description            | Lunch
 writetime(description) | 1481124356754405
 paid                   | True
 writetime(paid)        | 1481124356754405

@ Row 2
------------------------+------------------
 cyclist_name           | Vera ADRIAN
 expense_id             | 3
 amount                 | 25
 writetime(amount)      | 1481124356754405
 description            | Dinner
 writetime(description) | 1481124356754405
 paid                   | False
 writetime(paid)        | 1481124356754405

(2 rows)

BEGIN BATCH USING TIMESTAMP 1481124356754405
  INSERT INTO cycling.cyclist_expenses 
     (cyclist_name, expense_id, amount, description, paid) 
     VALUES ('Vera ADRIAN', 2, 13.44, 'Lunch', true);
  INSERT INTO cycling.cyclist_expenses 
     (cyclist_name, expense_id, amount, description, paid) 
     VALUES ('Vera ADRIAN', 3, 25.00, 'Dinner', false) IF NOT EXISTS;
APPLY BATCH;

InvalidRequest: Error from server: code=2200 [Invalid query] message="Cannot provide custom timestamp for conditional BATCH"

BEGIN BATCH
  INSERT INTO purchases (user, balance) VALUES ('user1', -8) IF NOT EXISTS;
  INSERT INTO purchases (user, expense_id, amount, description, paid)
    VALUES ('user1', 1, 8, 'burrito', false);
APPLY BATCH;

BEGIN BATCH
  UPDATE purchases SET balance = -208 WHERE user='user1' IF balance = -8;
  INSERT INTO purchases (user, expense_id, amount, description, paid)
    VALUES ('user1', 2, 200, 'hotel room', false);
APPLY BATCH;

BEGIN COUNTER BATCH
  UPDATE UserActionCounts SET total = total + 2 WHERE keyalias = 523;
  UPDATE AdminActionCounts SET total = total + 2 WHERE keyalias = 701;
APPLY BATCH;