+/* Begin an atomic database operation.
+ *
+ * Any modifications performed between a successful begin and a
+ * notmuch_database_end_atomic will be applied to the database
+ * atomically. Note that, unlike a typical database transaction, this
+ * only ensures atomicity, not durability; neither begin nor end
+ * necessarily flush modifications to disk.
+ *
+ * Atomic sections may be nested. begin_atomic and end_atomic must
+ * always be called in pairs.
+ *
+ * Return value:
+ *
+ * NOTMUCH_STATUS_SUCCESS: Successfully entered atomic section.
+ *
+ * NOTMUCH_STATUS_XAPIAN_EXCEPTION: A Xapian exception occurred;
+ * atomic section not entered.
+ */
+notmuch_status_t
+notmuch_database_begin_atomic (notmuch_database_t *notmuch);
+
+/* Indicate the end of an atomic database operation.
+ *
+ * Return value:
+ *
+ * NOTMUCH_STATUS_SUCCESS: Successfully completed atomic section.
+ *
+ * NOTMUCH_STATUS_XAPIAN_EXCEPTION: A Xapian exception occurred;
+ * atomic section not ended.
+ *
+ * NOTMUCH_STATUS_UNBALANCED_ATOMIC: The database is not currently in
+ * an atomic section.
+ */
+notmuch_status_t
+notmuch_database_end_atomic (notmuch_database_t *notmuch);
+