ExecuteScalar returns false for SQL count(*)

Question

I have the following function to check if a user exists in my SQL table

private static bool  userexists(string user)
{
    bool userexists = false;

    SqlCommand c = new SqlCommand("SELECT COUNT(*) from UserTable where Username = @user");
    c.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@user",user));
    using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(Properties.Settings.Default.connectionString))
    {
        userexists = (bool)c.ExecuteScalar();
        return userexists;
    }
}

it returns false even if the user exists, what am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Since you are getting back a number, you should cast it so and add a condition to get a bool result

userexists = (int) c.ExecuteScalar() > 0;

Answer 2

change this line :

        userexists = (bool)c.ExecuteScalar();

to this :

        userexists = (int32)c.ExecuteScalar() > 0;