---
title: "Set row count"
description: "You expect the query to return exactly the specified number of rows"
url: "https://docs.justcat.it/reference/tests/expectations/set-row-count/"
---
# Set row count


## Example

The table must hold data of all five departments:


**Properties**



Name
: Data of all departments are present

Suite
: Data quality checks

Data source
: HR

Query
: SELECT DISTINCT department_id FROM work_records

Expectation
: set row count

Expected row count
: 5





**YAML**


```yaml
Tests:
- Name: Data of all departments are present
  Suite: Data quality checks
  Data source: HR
  Query: SELECT DISTINCT department_id FROM work_records
  Expectation: set row count
  Expected row count: 5
```




The expected number can also go into `Second query` — handy when the definitions live in a database table and you do not want a column that only one expectation reads:


**Properties**



Name
: Data of all departments are present

Suite
: Data quality checks

First data source
: HR

First query
: SELECT DISTINCT department_id FROM work_records

Second query
: 5

Expectation
: set row count





**YAML**


```yaml
Tests:
- Name: Data of all departments are present
  Suite: Data quality checks
  First data source: HR
  First query: SELECT DISTINCT department_id FROM work_records
  Second query: 5
  Expectation: set row count
```




## Queries

One: `Data source` and `Query` (`First data source` and `First query` work too). The expected number comes from `Expected row count` *or* from `Second query` — one of them is required; both at once is an error. A `Second data source` on the test is an error as well.

## Result

If the number of rows returned by the query is exactly the expected one, the result is `Passed`; the message says `The expected row count matched the actual row count: 5`.

If the number differs, the result is `Failed`: `The expected row count 5 did not match the actual row count 7.`

If the underlying provider returns an exception, the result is `Error`.

## Properties it reads

| Property | Also accepted as | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| `Expected row count` | `Expected rowcount`, or `Second query` | The number of rows the query has to return |

## Remarks

CAT reads the whole result set to count it — it does not stop early when the count is already exceeded, so the message can report the actual number. Keep the result small when the table is big: `SELECT DISTINCT department_id` as in the example, not `SELECT *`.