Do I have to Close() a SQLConnection before it gets disposed?

C#asp.netUsingSqlconnectionSqlcommand

C# Problem Overview


Per my other question here about Disposable objects, should we call Close() before the end of a using block?

using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection())
using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand())
{
	command.CommandText = "INSERT INTO YourMom (Amount) VALUES (1)";
	command.CommandType = System.Data.CommandType.Text;

	connection.Open();
	command.ExecuteNonQuery();

	// Is this call necessary?
	connection.Close();
}

C# Solutions


Solution 1 - C#

Since you have a using block, the Dispose method of the SQLCommand will be called and it will close the connection:

// System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Dispose disassemble
protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
    if (disposing)
    {
        this._userConnectionOptions = null;
        this._poolGroup = null;
        this.Close();
    }
    this.DisposeMe(disposing);
    base.Dispose(disposing);
}

Solution 2 - C#

Disassembly of SqlConnection from using .NET Reflector:

protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
    if (disposing)
    {
        this._userConnectionOptions = null;
        this._poolGroup = null;
        this.Close();
    }

    this.DisposeMe(disposing);
    base.Dispose(disposing);
}

It calls Close() inside of Dispose()

Solution 3 - C#

The using keyword will close the connection correctly so the extra call to Close is not required.

From the MSDN article on SQL Server Connection Pooling:

> "We strongly recommend that you always > close the connection when you are > finished using it so that the > connection will be returned to the > pool. You can do this using either the > Close or Dispose methods of the > Connection object, or by opening all > connections inside a using statement > in C#"

The actual implementation of SqlConnection.Dispose using .NET Reflector is as follows:

// System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Dispose disassemble
protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
    if (disposing)
    {
        this._userConnectionOptions = null;
        this._poolGroup = null;
        this.Close();
    }
    this.DisposeMe(disposing);
    base.Dispose(disposing);
}

Solution 4 - C#

Using Reflector, you can see that the Dispose method of SqlConnection actually does call Close();

protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
    if (disposing)
    {
        this._userConnectionOptions = null;
        this._poolGroup = null;
        this.Close();
    }
    this.DisposeMe(disposing);
    base.Dispose(disposing);
}

Solution 5 - C#

No, calling Dispose() on SqlConnection also calls Close().

MSDN - SqlConnection.Dispose()

Solution 6 - C#

No, having the Using block calls Dispose() for you anyway, so there is no need to call Close().

Solution 7 - C#

No, it is not necessary to Close a connection before calling Dispose.

Some objects, (like SQLConnections) can be re-used afer calling Close, but not after calling Dispose. For other objects calling Close is the same as calling Dispose. (ManualResetEvent and Streams I think behave like this)

Solution 8 - C#

No, the SqlConnection class inherits from IDisposable, and when the end of using (for the connection object) is encountered, it automatically calls the Dispose on the SqlConnection class.

Attributions

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Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
QuestionJohn BView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - C#Christian C. SalvadóView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - C#statenjasonView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - C#Thomas BrattView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - C#Aaron DanielsView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - C#Justin NiessnerView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 6 - C#Jason EvansView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 7 - C#pipTheGeekView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 8 - C#blparkerView Answer on Stackoverflow