What is the difference between ExecuteNonQuery, ExecuteReader, and ExecuteScalar?

Follow:

• ExecuteNonQuery: Executes SQL commands that do not return data (e.g., INSERT,

UPDATE, DELETE).

• Example: command.ExecuteNonQuery(); (used to insert a record).
• ExecuteReader: Executes SQL commands that return rows (e.g., SELECT queries).

It returns a DataReader.

• Example: command.ExecuteReader(); (used to select records).
• ExecuteScalar: Executes SQL commands and returns a single value (e.g., a single

cell of data).

• Example: command.ExecuteScalar(); (used for retrieving the count or

aggregate values).