Convert Text value of column name to Column in a query

Question

I am trying to dynamically fetch the value of column named 'abc' using the text that is deduced from the decode function. Decode function is returning the text value of the column, that is 'abc' but not the underlying value dynamically. Is there a way to do this?

SELECT LOWER(DECODE('METRIC','METRIC','abc','MODEL','xyz','COUNTRY','US')) as abc FROM table_test

Expected result:

abc
---
1.2 
1.5
1.6
1.7

table_test:

Answer 1

If you can't use columns as the values in DECODE , you may always write a regular CASE expression:

SELECT
    CASE metric WHEN 'METRIC'  THEN abc
                WHEN 'MODEL'   THEN xyz
                WHEN 'COUNTRY' THEN US END AS output
FROM table_test;