C# Linq to XML check if element exists

Question

I have an XML document as follows:

 
   \"+447528349828\" 
   \"09/06/24 
          


        

Answer 1

Assuming that you have your number in some canonicalized form and your XML is loaded into an XmlDocument or some such, the simplest non-LINQ way to do it is with an XPath query:

string pattern = String.Format("/Database/SMS/Number[. = '{0}']", number);
if (myDoc.SelectSingleNode(pattern) != null)
{
   // number already exists in document
}