# Dataset Expression Row Count **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition81\ **Created:** [October 21, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220 "2021-10-21T17:32:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![amarks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/amarks/32/45610_2.png) [@amarks](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/amarks)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/1 "2021-10-21T17:32:59Z")
I have a dataset and I would like to check to see if the dataset contains any rows in an expression binding. I know to access the dataset values, you use “Dataset\_Expression [x,y]”. Is there a way to check how many rows are in the dataset, similar to data.getRowCount()? ---
**Author:** ![swolnisty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@swolnisty](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/swolnisty)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/2 "2021-10-21T17:38:10Z")
You should be able to check the row count of a dataset in the expression language by simply using the len() function: ```auto len({referenceToDataset}) ``` ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/3 "2021-10-21T18:20:54Z")
> [@swolnisty](#): > > You should be able to check the row count of a dataset in the expression language by simply using the len() function: ~~Note that this capability of the `len()` expression is new in 8.1.8, for any users still on an older version.~~ ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/4 "2021-10-21T18:26:53Z")
> [@paul-griffith](#): > > new in 8.1.8 Do you mean somewhere it broke and was fixed for 8.1.8? Because this functionality goes way back. ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/5 "2021-10-21T18:29:41Z")
I think he’s mixed up adding expanded support for arrays and collections. Looks like the `len` function has supported DataSets for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![samer\_samy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/samer_samy/32/52910_2.png) [@samer\_samy](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/samer_samy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 11:12am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/6 "2023-07-25T11:12:52Z")
How to get the length of a disticnt column values inside a dataset ? ---
**Author:** ![Transistor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/transistor/32/3380_2.png) [@Transistor](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Transistor)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 11:20am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/7 "2023-07-25T11:20:25Z")
All the columns will have the same length and this will be the length of the dataset. Are you asking how to get the maximum string length in a particular dataset column? (If so then this should have been asked as a new thread as it is not related to this one.) ---
**Author:** ![amarks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/amarks/32/45610_2.png) [@amarks](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/amarks)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/8 "2024-02-27T22:17:28Z")
Can I use python's len function to do the same thing within a script? ---
**Author:** ![swolnisty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@swolnisty](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/swolnisty)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/9 "2024-02-27T22:24:42Z")
I'm not sure, I would probably just stick with the default dataset scripting functions in Ignition: ```auto dataset.getRowCount() ``` ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/10 "2024-02-27T22:33:49Z")
Not for any arbitrary dataset. PyDatasets, yes. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dataset-expression-row-count/52220/11 "2024-02-28T00:02:08Z")
Slightly more efficient, and easier on the eyes: ```auto dataset.rowCount ```