MYSQL query using variable as table name in LEFT JOIN

Question

SELECT var1,var2,var3,table_name 
FROM table1 LEFT JOIN table_name on var3=table_name.id

Meaning I want to dynamically left join table, depending on value of table_name from table1, since var3 is taken from there.

But the above query results in

table table_name does not exist

My mistake of mysql limitation?

Answer 1

Table names, as well as column names, can't be dynamic in an SQL query. So you have to apply your logic programmatically, using 2 queries, or with a stored procedure, see an example here: http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?98,126506,126598#msg-126598