code: def table_exists(
          dbConn,
          log,
          dbTableName):
      
      log.debug('starting the ``table_exists`` function')
  
      sqlQuery = u"""
          SELECT count(*)
          FROM information_schema.tables
          WHERE table_name = '%(dbTableName)s'
      """ % locals()
      tableExists = readquery(
          log=log,
          sqlQuery=sqlQuery,
          dbConn=dbConn,
          quiet=False
      )
  
      if tableExists[0]["count(*)"] == 0:
          tableExists = False
      else:
          tableExists = True
  
      log.debug('completed the ``table_exists`` function')
      return tableExists
docs: *Probe a database to determine if a given table exists*
  
      **Key Arguments:**
          - ``dbConn`` -- mysql database connection
          - ``log`` -- logger
          - ``dbTableName`` -- the database tablename
  
      **Return:**
          - ``tableExists`` -- True or False
  
      **Usage:**
  
          To test if a table exists in a database:
  
          .. code-block:: python 
  
              from fundamentals.mysql import table_exists
              exists = table_exists(
                  dbConn=dbConn,
                  log=log,
                  dbTableName="stupid_named_table"
              )
  
              print exists
  
              # OUTPUT: False