How to check if a database exists in SQL Server?

Question

What is the ideal way to check if a database exists on a SQL Server using TSQL? It seems multiple approaches to implement this.

Answer 1

Actually it's best to use:

IF DB_ID('dms') IS NOT NULL
   --code mine :)
   print 'db exists'

See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/functions/db-id-transact-sql and note that this does not make sense with the Azure SQL Database.