DbCommand.ExecuteScalar Method
Executes the query and returns the first column of the first row in the result set returned by the query. All other columns and rows are ignored.
Assembly: System.Data (in System.Data.dll)
Use the ExecuteScalar method to retrieve a single value (for example, an aggregate value) from a database. This requires less code than using the ExecuteReader method and performing the operations necessary to generate the single value using the data returned by a DbDataReader.
If the first column of the first row in the result set is not found, a null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic) is returned. If the value in the database is null, the query returns DBNull.Value.
Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360, Zune
The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.
