Int32.TryParse() or (int?)command.ExecuteScalar()

Question

I have a SQL query which returns only one field - an ID of type INT.

And I have to use it as integer in C# code.

Which way is faster and uses less memory?

Answer 1

If you expect the command to return null, you should keep in mind that database null (DBNull) is not the same as .NET null. So, conversion of DBNull to int? would fail.

I'd suggest the following:

object result = command.ExecuteScalar();
int? id = (int?)(!Convert.IsDBNull(result) ? result : null);