OLTP stands for "Online Transaction Processing." It refers to a class of systems that manage transaction-oriented applications, typically for data entry and retrieval transactions. OLTP systems are designed to handle a large number of short online transactions, which require fast processing, high availability, and data integrity. They are commonly used in various applications such as banking, retail, and reservations.
The term "OLTP" was first used in the 1970s as database technologies evolved to support transaction-based applications that required quick and reliable response times. The concept has roots in earlier database management systems which aimed to facilitate the efficient processing of transactions.