How to stop count (sql query) after it finds 1 record?

Question

SQL

SELECT COUNT(id) as c FROM users where login="bek" limit 1 - tried but still finds 27 (27 records in the table).

Answer 1

Do you need to know if there is such a record? What for then count?
The string returned - it means there is. Returned 0 lines - so no.
You can always return one row:

SELECT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM users where login="bek" limit 1)

Answer 2

Why do you need to choose the quantity if you already choose only 1 ???
Choose 1 ID, and then according to the situation.