How to use ExecuteScalar() method in ASP.Net c#?

In this article we will discuss, how to use ExecuteScalar () method in ASP.Net c#. when we want o return a single value by using ExecuteScalar () method. Below example brief about returning total number of employees.

Example:

     protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if (!IsPostBack)
            {
                //Create the connection object
               SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["ShoppingZone"].ConnectionString) ;
                try
               {
                       //Create aninstance of SqlCommand class, specifying the T-SQL command 
                       //that we want toexecute, and the connection object.
                   SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("Select Count(EmployeeId) from Employee", connection);
                       connection.Open();
                       //As the T-SQLstatement that we want to execute return a single value, 
                       //use ExecuteScalar()method of the command object.
                       //Since thereturn type of ExecuteScalar() is object, we are type casting to int datatype
                       int TotalRows = (int)cmd.ExecuteScalar();
                       Response.Write("Totalemployees = " +TotalRows.ToString());
               }
                catch (Exception ex)
               {
                   // HandleExceptions, if any
                   Response.Write(ex.ToString());
               }
                finally
               {
                   // The finallyblock is guarenteed to execute even if there is an exception. 
                   //  This ensures connections are always properlyclosed.
                   connection.Close();
               }
            }
        }