Check if a SQL table exists

Question

What\'s the best way to check if a table exists in a Sql database in a database independant way?

I came up with:

   bool exists;
   const string sql         


        

Answer 1

I would avoid executing the select count(x) from xxxxxx as the DBMS will actually go ahead and do it which may take some time for a large table.

Instead just prepare a select * from mysterytable query. The prepare will fail if mysterytable does not exist. There is no need to actually execute the prepared statement.