Capturing count from an SQL query

Question

What is the simplest way in C# (.cs file) to get the count from the SQL command

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_name 

into an int variable?

Answer 1

Use SqlCommand.ExecuteScalar() and cast it to an int:

cmd.CommandText = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_name"; Int32 count = (Int32) cmd.ExecuteScalar(); 

Answer 2

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection("ConnectionString"); conn.Open(); SqlCommand comm = new SqlCommand("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_name", conn); Int32 count = (Int32) comm .ExecuteScalar();