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Querying Scalar Values With Dapper

Dapper is a simple and effective tool for retrieving scalar values from databases quickly and easily. It provides an efficient API that minimizes the amount of code needed to get results from the database.

  • With its support for parameterized queries, it can also help ensure the security of your application.
  • If you need to quickly and easily query databases for single values or objects, Dapper is a great tool to use.
  • It provides an efficient way to retrieve scalar values that can save you time and effort in your projects.

Dapper provides two methods for selecting scalar values along with their asynchronous counterparts.

Method Description
ExecuteScalar Returns the first column of the first row as a dynamic type
ExecuteScalar<T> Returns the first column of the first row as the specified T type parameter
ExecuteScalarAsync Returns the first column of the first row as a dynamic type asynchronously
ExecuteScalarAsync<T> Returns the first column of the first row as the specified T type parameter asynchronously
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Dapper ExecuteScalar

The ExecuteScalar method is often used to execute SQL queries that return a single column and a single row. That could include queries such as retrieving the total number of rows in a database table or the sum of values from multiple columns.

To retrieve a scalar value using Dapper, you first need to construct a query that will be executed against the database. After creating the query, you use the ExecuteScalar method to execute it and get back a single value from the results.

language-csharp
| 
var sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Product";
var count = connection.ExecuteScalar(sql);

Console.WriteLine($"Total products: {count}");

Online Example

For example, if you wanted to select the total number of records in a table, you could use a query such as SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Products. Then, you could use the ExecuteScalar method on the query to get back a single value representing the total number of records.

If you want to perform any operations on the returned value, you must cast or convert it to its expected type. Alternatively, use the version of ExecuteScalar<T> that takes a generic parameter and specifies the return type explicitly:

language-csharp
| 
var sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Product";
var count = connection.ExecuteScalar<int>(sql);

Console.WriteLine($"Total products: {count}");

Online Example

Dapper ExecuteScalarAsync

The ExecuteScalarAsync is an asynchronous version of ExecuteScalar that executes the query asynchronously. It returns the first column of the first row from the result set returned by the query. Any additional columns or rows are ignored.

language-csharp
| 
var sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Product";
var count = await connection.ExecuteScalarAsync(sql);

Console.WriteLine($"Total products: {count}");

Online Example

You can also use the ExecuteScalarAsync<T> that takes a generic parameter and specifies the return type explicitly.

language-csharp
| 
var sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Product";
var count = await connection.ExecuteScalarAsync<int>(sql);

Console.WriteLine($"Total products: {count}");

Online Example

FAQ

How to retrieve a scalar value returned by a stored procedure in Dapper?

To retrieve a scalar value returned by a stored procedure, you need to specify the stored procedure name in the command text and specify the command type to CommandType.StoredProcedure:

CREATE PROCEDURE MyStoredProcedure
AS
BEGIN
    SELECT 1
END

using (var connection = new SqlConnection("connectionString"))
{
    var scalarValue = connection.ExecuteScalar<int>("MyStoredProcedure", commandType: CommandType.StoredProcedure);
    
    Console.WriteLine(scalarValue);
}
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Date Modified: 2025-07-10
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