C# Linq to XML check if element exists

Question

I have an XML document as follows: ``` "+447528349828" "09/06/24 13:35:01" "Stop" "+447528349828" "09/06/24 13:35:01" "Stop" ``` I am trying to check whether the number child node of the parent SMS node exists in the document (for validation purposes to avoid inserting duplicate data). Any advice on a potential solution? EDIT: The element will be compared to an input string. For example if(inputNumber == xmlDocNumber){ //Don't Insert New Element }

Accepted Answer

I'll suggest a slightly different tack to using `Count()` - use `Any()`. The advantage is that Any() can stop as soon as it gets any matches at all:

```
var smsWithNoNumber = main.Descendants("SMS")
                          .Where(x => !x.Elements("Number").Any());
```

In this case it won't make much odds, but in cases where `Count()` might have to count a million hits just to tell you that there was at least one, it's a useful trick to know. I'd say it's also a clearer indicator of what you mean.

C# Linq to XML check if element exists

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