Name

Read

Synopsis

Boolean moreRecords = DataReader.Read();

Moves to the next record. If no record can be found, it returns false. Otherwise, it returns true. When the DataReader is first created, it is positioned just before the first row. You must call Read( ) before you can retrieve information from the first row. (The first Read( ) call advances the DataReader to the first record, if any.)

Example

The following code shows the basic pattern of access for reading rows with the DataReader. The Read( ) method is invoked as part of a while loop, ensuring that the loop ends immediately when the Read( ) method returns false.

string SQL = "SELECT ContactName FROM Customers";



SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(SQL, con);

SqlDataReader r;



try

{



    con.Open();

    r = cmd.ExecuteReader();



    // Iterate over the results.

    while (r.Read())

    {

        Console.WriteLine(r["ContactName"].ToString());

    }

}

finally

{

    con.Close();

}

Because the DataReader encapsulates a live connection, you should read all the information as quickly as possible and close the connection immediately after.

Note

The DataReader provides only a single record at a time. Once the DataReader has been moved forward, you can’t retrieve a value from a previous row.