Check if a database or table exists using Sql Server 2005

The Object_ID() function in SQL Server can be utilised in a number of ways. One such utility is to verify if an object exists.

The Object_ID() takes in the object name and object type as parameters. The object name is the object used and the object type is the type of object used in a schema.

For example to check if a table exists in a database, use this query :

IF OBJECT_ID ('AdventureWorks.dbo.AWBuildVersion','U') IS NOT NULL
Print 'Table Exists'
ELSE
Print 'Table Does Not Exists'

where 'AdventureWorks.dbo.AWBuildVersion' is the object name and 'U' is the object type which represents a table

Similarly you can check for a stored procedure or a view by specifying the correct object type. You can get an entire list of object types over here.

To check if a database exists, you can use the DB_ID() function as shown below :

IF db_id('AdventureWorks') IS NOT NULL
Print 'Database Exists'
ELSE
Print 'Database Does Not Exists'

About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, MCSE, is the founder of DotNetCurry, DNC Magazine for Developers, SQLServerCurry and DevCurry. He has also authored a couple of books 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls and a new one recently at The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Suprotim has received the prestigous Microsoft MVP award for nine times in a row now. In a professional capacity, he is the CEO of A2Z Knowledge Visuals Pvt Ltd, a digital group that represents premium web sites and digital publications comprising of Professional web, windows, mobile and cloud developers, technical managers, and architects.

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