c# - 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();