code: public function count($query)
  	{
      // If no partial query was passed in, use data-member db instance.
      if (!isset($query)) {
        $query = $this->db;
      }
  
      // Clear out any existing SELECT parameters.
      $query->resetSelect();
  
      // Establish COUNT
      $query->select('COUNT(*)');
      $query->from($this->tableName);
  
      if ($this->viewQuery) {
        echo $query->getQuery();
      }
  
      $result = $query->fetch();
      return array_pop($result);
  	}
docs: $query is an instance of a Cora database.