The document discusses transaction processing systems and transactions. A transaction processing system handles large databases and concurrent users executing transactions. A transaction is a logical unit of database processing that includes database access operations like insertions, deletions, modifications, or retrievals. Transactions must be atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable (ACID properties). Concurrency control mechanisms are needed to ensure transactions execute correctly when run concurrently. Schedules specify the order transactions execute and must be serializable to ensure consistency.