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 sqlStatement = @"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM my_table";

   try
    {
       using (OdbcCommand cmd = new OdbcCommand(sqlStatement, myOdbcConnection))
       {
            cmd.ExecuteScalar();
            exists = true;
       }
    }
    catch
    {
        exists = false;
    }

Is there a better way to do this? This method will not work when the connection to the database fails. I've found ways for Sybase, SQL server, Oracle but nothing that works for all databases.

Answer 1

bool exists;

try
{
    // ANSI SQL way.  Works in PostgreSQL, MSSQL, MySQL.  
    var cmd = new OdbcCommand(
      "select case when exists((select * from information_schema.tables where table_name = '" + tableName + "')) then 1 else 0 end");

    exists = (int)cmd.ExecuteScalar() == 1;
}
catch
{
    try
    {
        // Other RDBMS.  Graceful degradation
        exists = true;
        var cmdOthers = new OdbcCommand("select 1 from " + tableName + " where 1 = 0");
        cmdOthers.ExecuteNonQuery();
    }
    catch
    {
        exists = false;
    }
}