This chapter explains the EJB Server component lifecycle and transaction processing models. Transactions allow you to group database updates performed by multiple components into a single atomic unit of work, which greatly simplifies error recovery in component-based applications.
The component lifecycle determines how instances of a component are allocated, bound to a client, and destroyed. The EJB Server component lifecycle is designed to maximize reuse of resources and minimize the possibility that a client application can monopolize a server resource.
The component lifecycle and the transaction model are tightly integrated. You must understand both to use transactions effectively in your application.
