public function tableExists($table, $parse = true)
    {
        // prepare
        if ($parse) {
            $table = $this->getPrefix($table);
        }

        // escape table name for query
        $escapedTable = str_replace('_', '\\_', $table);

        // sql query to test if table exists
        $sql = "SHOW TABLES LIKE '{$escapedTable}'";

        // execute test if table exists
        $exists = $this->getRow($sql);

        return (bool) $exists;
    }