If a linq query returns empty does it return null?

Question

I have the following linq query: ``` vm.logs = (from l in db.ActivityLogs orderby l.Time select l).Take(2); ``` If the db table is empty will this return null? If not how can I detect if a query did return any information?

Accepted Answer

It will return an `IEnumerable<ActivityLog>` with no elements.

To check if there are any elements, use the `Any()` method:

```
if(!logs.Any())
{
   Console.WriteLine("No elements found.");
}
```

Also note that as you've written it, `vm.logs` will be lazily evaluated, that is, it won't be fetched from the database until it is used. If you first do a `.Any()` and then later access the contents of the query, there will be two queries executed in the database. To avoid that, materialize (force the query to execute) by adding a `ToList()` to the query:

```
 vm.logs = (from l in db.ActivityLogs
               orderby l.Time
               select l).Take(2).ToList();
```

If a linq query returns empty does it return null?

Solution

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