---
title: "ABORT"
id: sql-abort
pg_version: "20devel"
---

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# ABORT — abort the current transaction

## Synopsis

```
ABORT [ WORK | TRANSACTION ] [ AND [ NO ] CHAIN ]
```

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## Description

`ABORT` rolls back the current transaction and causes all the updates made by the transaction to be discarded. This command is identical in behavior to the standard SQL command [`ROLLBACK`](sql-rollback.md), and is present only for historical reasons. 

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## Parameters

**`WORK`**, **`TRANSACTION`**

 Optional key words. They have no effect. **`AND CHAIN`**

 If `AND CHAIN` is specified, a new transaction is immediately started with the same transaction characteristics (see [`SET TRANSACTION`](sql-set-transaction.md)) as the just finished one. Otherwise, no new transaction is started. <a id="id-1.9.3.3.7"></a>

## Notes

Use [`COMMIT`](sql-commit.md) to successfully terminate a transaction. 

Issuing `ABORT` outside of a transaction block emits a warning and otherwise has no effect. 

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## Examples

To abort all changes: 
ABORT;


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## Compatibility

This command is a PostgreSQL extension present for historical reasons. `ROLLBACK` is the equivalent standard SQL command. 

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## See Also

[BEGIN](sql-begin.md), [COMMIT](sql-commit.md), [ROLLBACK](sql-rollback.md)