Check if MySQL table exists without using "select from" syntax?

If you want to be correct, use INFORMATION_SCHEMA.

SELECT * 
FROM information_schema.tables
WHERE table_schema = 'yourdb' 
    AND table_name = 'testtable'
LIMIT 1;

Alternatively, you can use SHOW TABLES

SHOW TABLES LIKE 'yourtable';

If there is a row in the resultset, table exists.

SELECT count(*)
FROM information_schema.TABLES
WHERE (TABLE_SCHEMA = 'your_db_name') AND (TABLE_NAME = 'name_of_table')

if you get a non-zero count, the table exists.

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