MySQL, Error Code: 1093. You can’t specify target table for update in FROM clause

The error you’re encountering, “Error Code: 1093. You can’t specify target table ‘tableName’ for an update in FROM clause”, occurs when you try to update a table based on a subquery referencing the same table. MySQL doesn’t allow updates to a table when the table is also being used in a subquery in the FROM clause.

You can use a temporary table or nest the subquery to work around this limitation. Here are both methods explained:

Method 1: Using a Temporary Table

1. Step 1: Create a temporary table and insert the necessary data from the original table.

   CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE TempOrders AS
   SELECT * FROM TableName WHERE [Your Condition];

2. Step 2: Perform the update using the temporary table.

   UPDATE TableName
   SET Orders.column_name = [New Value]
   WHERE Orders.column_name IN (SELECT column_name FROM TempOrders);

3. Step 3: Drop the temporary table (optional).

   DROP TEMPORARY TABLE TempOrders;

Method 2: Using a Nested Subquery

Use a nested subquery to isolate the reference to the target table.

   UPDATE TableName
   SET column_name = [New Value]
   WHERE column_name IN (
       SELECT * FROM (
           SELECT column_name FROM TableName WHERE [Your Condition]
       ) AS Temp
   );

In both methods, replace column_name with the actual column name you’re working with, [Your Condition] with the actual condition for selecting rows and [New Value] with the new value you want to set.

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