API

DataTables has an extensive API which can be used to access the data contained in a table and otherwise manipulate the table after the table initialisation has completed. The DataTables API is designed to reflect the structure of the data in the table and how you will typically interact with the table through the API. It can also be extended by the extensions and plug-ins providing additional features and operations.

The API can be accessed through the following methods:

new DataTable.Api( selector );
$( selector ).DataTable();
$( selector ).dataTable().api();

The result from each is an instance of the DataTables API object which has the tables found by the selector in its context. If you are using jQuery, it is important to note the difference between $( selector ).DataTable() and $( selector ).dataTable(). The former returns a DataTables API instance, while the latter returns a jQuery object.

For general information on how the DataTables API operates, including its chaining, how to work with multiple tables and definitions of the terminology used in this reference, please prefer to the API manual.

Search:

Library	Name	Summary
DataTables - Core	`$()`	Perform a jQuery selection action on the full table.
DataTables - Core	`ajax`	Namespace for Ajax methods
DataTables - Core	`ajax.json()`	Get the latest JSON data obtained from the last Ajax request DataTables made
DataTables - Core	`ajax.params()`	Get the data submitted by DataTables to the server in the last Ajax request
DataTables - Core	`ajax.reload()`	Reload the table data from the Ajax data source
DataTables - Core	`ajax.url()`	Get / set the URL that DataTables uses to Ajax fetch data
DataTables - Core	`ajax.url().load()`	Load data from the newly set data source URL
DataTables - Core	`clear()`	Clear the table of all data.
DataTables - Core	`column().init()`	Get the initialisation options for a column.
DataTables - Core	`column().search.fixed()`	Get / set a named search to apply to a column.
DataTables - Core	`columns().init()`	Get the initialisation options for the selected columns.
DataTables - Core	`columns().search.fixed()`	Get / set a named search to apply to a column.
DataTables - Core	`data()`	Get the data for the whole table.
DataTables - Core	`destroy()`	Destroy the DataTables in the current context.
DataTables - Core	`draw()`	Redraw the table.
DataTables - Core	`i18n()`	Internationalisation token lookup.
DataTables - Core	`init()`	Get the initialisation options used for the table.
DataTables - Core	`off()`	Table events removal.
DataTables - Core	`on()`	Table events listener.
DataTables - Core	`one()`	Listen for a table event once and then remove the listener.
DataTables - Core	`order()`	Get / set the ordering applied to the table.
DataTables - Core	`order.fixed()`	Get / set the fixed ordering applied to the table.
DataTables - Core	`order.listener()`	Add an ordering listener to an element, for a given column.
DataTables - Core	`page()`	Get / set the current page of the table.
DataTables - Core	`page.info()`	Get paging information about the table
DataTables - Core	`page.len()`	Get / set the table's page length.
DataTables - Core	`processing()`	Set the processing indicator state for the DataTable.
DataTables - Core	`search()`	Search for data in the table.
DataTables - Core	`search.fixed()`	Get / set a named search to apply to a table.
DataTables - Core	`settings()`	Obtain the table's settings object
DataTables - Core	`state()`	Get / set the state of the table
DataTables - Core	`state.clear()`	Clear the saved state of the table.
DataTables - Core	`state.loaded()`	Get the table state that was loaded during initialisation.
DataTables - Core	`state.save()`	Trigger a state save.
DataTables - Core	`trigger()`	Trigger an event.
DataTables - Cells	`cell()`	Select a single cell from a table.
DataTables - Cells	`cell().cache()`	Get the DataTables cached data for the selected cell
DataTables - Cells	`cell().data()`	Get / set data for the selected cell
DataTables - Cells	`cell().index()`	Get index information about the selected cell
DataTables - Cells	`cell().invalidate()`	Invalidate the data held in DataTables for the selected cells
DataTables - Cells	`cell().node()`	Get the DOM element for the selected cell
DataTables - Cells	`cell().render()`	Get rendered data for a cell
DataTables - Cells	`cells()`	Select multiple cells from a table.
DataTables - Cells	`cells().cache()`	Get the DataTables cached data for the selected cells
DataTables - Cells	`cells().data()`	Get data for the selected cells
DataTables - Cells	`cells().every()`	Iterate over each selected cell, with the function context set to be the cell in question.
DataTables - Cells	`cells().indexes()`	Get index information about the selected cells
DataTables - Cells	`cells().invalidate()`	Invalidate the data held in DataTables for the selected cells
DataTables - Cells	`cells().nodes()`	Get the DOM elements for the selected cells
DataTables - Cells	`cells().render()`	Get rendered data for a collection of cells
DataTables - Columns	`column()`	Select a single column from a table.
DataTables - Columns	`column().cache()`	Get the DataTables cached data for the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().data()`	Get the data for the cells in the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().dataSrc()`	Get the data source property for the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().footer()`	Get the footer node for the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().header()`	Get the header node for the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().index()`	Get the column index of the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().nodes()`	Get the cell nodes for the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().order()`	Order the table by the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().orderable()`	Get information about the orderable status of a column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().render()`	Get rendered data for a column
DataTables - Columns	`column().search()`	Search for data in the selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().title()`	Get / set the title for a column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().type()`	Get a column's data type.
DataTables - Columns	`column().visible()`	Get / set the visibility of a single selected column.
DataTables - Columns	`column().width()`	Get the width of a column.
DataTables - Columns	`column.index()`	Convert between column index formats
DataTables - Columns	`columns()`	Select multiple columns from a table.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().cache()`	Get the DataTables cached data for the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().data()`	Get the data for the cells in the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().dataSrc()`	Get the data source property for the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().every()`	Iterate over each selected column, with the function context set to be the column in question.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().footer()`	Get the footer nodes for the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().header()`	Get the header node for the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().indexes()`	Get the column indexes of the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().nodes()`	Get the cell nodes for the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().order()`	Order the table by the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().orderable()`	Get information about the orderable status of the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().render()`	Get rendered data for a collection of columns
DataTables - Columns	`columns().search()`	Search for data in the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().titles()`	Get / set the title for multiple columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().types()`	Get the data types for selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().visible()`	Get / set the visibility of the selected columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns().widths()`	Get the widths of a group of columns.
DataTables - Columns	`columns.adjust()`	Recalculate the column widths
DataTables - Rows	`row()`	Select a single row from a table.
DataTables - Rows	`row().cache()`	Get the DataTables cached data for the selected row.
DataTables - Rows	`row().child`	Row child method namespace
DataTables - Rows	`row().child()`	Get / set the child rows of the selected main table row
DataTables - Rows	`row().child().hide()`	Hide child rows after creating new child rows
DataTables - Rows	`row().child().remove()`	Destroy child row(s) for the selected parent row
DataTables - Rows	`row().child().show()`	Make newly defined child rows visible
DataTables - Rows	`row().child.hide()`	Hide the child row(s) of a parent row
DataTables - Rows	`row().child.isShown()`	Check if the child rows of a parent row are visible
DataTables - Rows	`row().child.remove()`	Destroy child row(s) for the selected parent row
DataTables - Rows	`row().child.show()`	Make the child row(s) of a parent row visible
DataTables - Rows	`row().data()`	Get / set the data for the selected row.
DataTables - Rows	`row().id()`	Get the id of the selected row.
DataTables - Rows	`row().index()`	Get the row index of the selected row.
DataTables - Rows	`row().invalidate()`	Invalidate the data held in DataTables for the selected row
DataTables - Rows	`row().node()`	Get the row `TR` node for the selected row.
DataTables - Rows	`row().remove()`	Delete the selected row from the DataTable.
DataTables - Rows	`row.add()`	Add a new row to the table.
DataTables - Rows	`rows()`	Select multiple rows from a table.
DataTables - Rows	`rows().cache()`	Get the DataTables cached data for the selected rows.
DataTables - Rows	`rows().data()`	Get the data for the selected rows.
DataTables - Rows	`rows().every()`	Iterate over each selected row, with the function context set to be the row in question.
DataTables - Rows	`rows().ids()`	Get the ids of the selected rows.
DataTables - Rows	`rows().indexes()`	Get the row indexes of the selected rows.
DataTables - Rows	`rows().invalidate()`	Invalidate the data held in DataTables for the selected rows
DataTables - Rows	`rows().nodes()`	Get the row `TR` nodes for the selected rows.
DataTables - Rows	`rows().remove()`	Delete the selected rows from the DataTable.
DataTables - Rows	`rows.add()`	Add multiple new rows to the table.
DataTables - Tables	`caption()`	Get / set the table's caption
DataTables - Tables	`caption.node()`	Get the table's `caption` element
DataTables - Tables	`table()`	Select a table based on a selector from the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`table().body()`	Get the `tbody` node for the table in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`table().container()`	Get the `div` container node for the table in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`table().footer()`	Get the `tfoot` node for the table in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`table().footer.structure()`	Get a Javascript representation of the table footer structure
DataTables - Tables	`table().header()`	Get the `thead` node for the table in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`table().header.structure()`	Get a Javascript representation of the table header structure
DataTables - Tables	`table().node()`	Get the `table` node for the table in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`tables()`	Select tables based on a selector from the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`tables().body()`	Get the `tbody` nodes for the tables in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`tables().containers()`	Get the `div` container nodes for the tables in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`tables().footer()`	Get the `tfoot` nodes for the tables in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`tables().header()`	Get the `thead` nodes for the tables in the API's context
DataTables - Tables	`tables().nodes()`	Get the `table` nodes for the tables in the API's context
DataTables - Utility	`any()`	Determine if there are any entries in the result set
DataTables - Utility	`count()`	Get the number of elements that are contained in an API instance
DataTables - Utility	`each()`	Iterate over the contents of the API result set.
DataTables - Utility	`eq()`	Reduce an Api instance to a single context and result set.
DataTables - Utility	`error()`	Trigger an error message.
DataTables - Utility	`filter()`	Create a new API instance with all elements from the result set which pass a given test.
DataTables - Utility	`flatten()`	Flatten a 2D array structured API instance to a 1D array structure.
DataTables - Utility	`get()`	Get the underlying data from a DataTable instance
DataTables - Utility	`includes()`	Determine if an API result set contains a given value.
DataTables - Utility	`indexOf()`	Find the first instance of a value in the API instance's result set.
DataTables - Utility	`iterator()`	Iterate over a result set of table, row, column or cell indexes
DataTables - Utility	`join()`	Join the elements in the result set into a string.
DataTables - Utility	`lastIndexOf()`	Find the last instance of a value in the API instance's result set.
DataTables - Utility	`length`	Number of elements in an API instance's result set.
DataTables - Utility	`map()`	Create a new API instance with the result set defined by the values returned from the callback function.
DataTables - Utility	`pluck()`	Create a new API instance with the value of a property from the objects in the current result set.
DataTables - Utility	`pop()`	Remove the last item from an API instance's result set.
DataTables - Utility	`push()`	Add one or more items to the end of an API instance's result set.
DataTables - Utility	`ready()`	Determine if a DataTable is ready.
DataTables - Utility	`reduce()`	Apply a callback function against and accumulator and each element in the Api's result set (left-to-right).
DataTables - Utility	`reduceRight()`	Apply a callback function against and accumulator and each element in the Api's result set (right-to-left).
DataTables - Utility	`reverse()`	Reverse the result set of the API instance.
DataTables - Utility	`shift()`	Remove the first item from an API instance's result set.
DataTables - Utility	`slice()`	Create an independent copy of the API instance.
DataTables - Utility	`sort()`	Sort the elements of the API instance's result set.
DataTables - Utility	`splice()`	Modify the contents of an Api instance's result set, adding or removing items from it as required.
DataTables - Utility	`to$()`	Convert the API instance to a jQuery object, with the objects from the instance's result set in the jQuery result set.
DataTables - Utility	`toArray()`	Create a native Javascript array object from an API instance.
DataTables - Utility	`toJQuery()`	Convert the API instance to a jQuery object, with the objects from the instance's result set in the jQuery result set.
DataTables - Utility	`unique()`	Create a new API instance containing only the unique items from the elements in an instance's result set.
DataTables - Utility	`unshift()`	Add one or more items to the start of an API instance's result set.
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.datetime()`	Register a date / time format for DataTables to use
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.feature.register()`	Create a new feature that can be used for layout
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.isDataTable()`	Check is a table node is a DataTable or not
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.tables()`	Get all DataTables on the page
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.type()`	Get / set details of a data type
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.types()`	Get a list of the data types registered
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.debounce()`	Wait for a timeout before calling a function
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.diacritics()`	Normalise diacritic characters in a string.
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.escapeHtml()`	Escape HTML entities to make a user input string safe
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.escapeRegex()`	Escape special characters in a regular expression string
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.get()`	Create a read function from a descriptor
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.set()`	Create a write function from a descriptor
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.stripHtml()`	Remove HTML from a string
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.throttle()`	Throttle the calls to a method to reduce call frequency
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.util.unique()`	Get all unique items from an array
DataTables - Static	`DataTable.versionCheck()`	Version number compatibility check function
AutoFill	`autoFill().disable()`	Disable AutoFill's interactions
AutoFill	`autoFill().enable()`	Enable or disable AutoFill's interactions
AutoFill	`autoFill().enabled()`	Determine if AutoFill is enabled or disabled
Buttons	`DataTable.fileSave()`	Save a file that has been created on the client-side
Buttons	`button()`	Select a single button
Buttons	`button().action()`	Get / set the action function for the selected button
Buttons	`button().active()`	Get / set the active state of the selected button
Buttons	`button().add()`	Create a new button and add it to the document
Buttons	`button().collectionRebuild()`	Rebuild a buttons collection
Buttons	`button().disable()`	Disable the selected button
Buttons	`button().enable()`	Enable / disable the selected button
Buttons	`button().index()`	Get the index of a node
Buttons	`button().node()`	Get the button node for the selected button
Buttons	`button().popover()`	Show popover box for a button, allowing extra user input
Buttons	`button().processing()`	Get / set the processing state for a button
Buttons	`button().remove()`	Remove and delete the selected button
Buttons	`button().text()`	Get / set the text for the selected button
Buttons	`button().trigger()`	Trigger the action of the selected button
Buttons	`buttons()`	Select one or more buttons
Buttons	`buttons().action()`	Get / set the action functions for the selected buttons
Buttons	`buttons().active()`	Set the active state for the selected buttons
Buttons	`buttons().collectionRebuild()`	Rebuild a buttons collection
Buttons	`buttons().container()`	Get the container element for a single Buttons instance
Buttons	`buttons().containers()`	Get the container elements for one or more button instances
Buttons	`buttons().destroy()`	Destroy one or more button instances and remove from the document
Buttons	`buttons().disable()`	Disable the selected buttons
Buttons	`buttons().enable()`	Enable / disable the selected buttons
Buttons	`buttons().nodes()`	Get the button nodes for the selected buttons
Buttons	`buttons().processing()`	Set the processing state for multiple buttons
Buttons	`buttons().remove()`	Remove and delete the selected buttons
Buttons	`buttons().text()`	Get / set the text for the selected buttons
Buttons	`buttons().trigger()`	Trigger the action of the selected buttons
Buttons	`buttons.exportData()`	Obtain data from the DataTable that is suitable for exporting
Buttons	`buttons.exportInfo()`	Get export meta information that is common to many different button types
Buttons	`buttons.info()`	Display and hide information for the end user in a modal box
ColReorder	`colReorder.disable()`	Disable ColReorder's interactions
ColReorder	`colReorder.enable()`	Enable or disable ColReorder's interactions
ColReorder	`colReorder.move()`	Programmatically move columns
ColReorder	`colReorder.order()`	Get / set column order
ColReorder	`colReorder.reset()`	Restore the loaded column order
ColReorder	`colReorder.transpose()`	Convert one or more column indexes to and from current and original indexes
Editor	`cell().edit()`	Edit a cell with inline or bubble editing
Editor	`cells().edit()`	Edit cells with bubble editing
Editor	`editor()`	Get the Editor instance associated with this table.
Editor	`file()`	Get information about an uploaded file
Editor	`files()`	Get information about multiple uploaded files
Editor	`row().delete()`	Delete an existing row
Editor	`row().edit()`	Edit an existing row
Editor	`row.create()`	Create a new row
Editor	`rows().delete()`	Delete multiple existing rows
Editor	`rows().edit()`	Edit multiple existing rows
FixedColumns	`fixedColumns()`	Namespace for FixedColumns methods
FixedColumns	`fixedColumns().end()`	Get / set the number of columns fixed at the end of a table
FixedColumns	`fixedColumns().left()`	Get / set the number of fixed columns on the left side of a table
FixedColumns	`fixedColumns().right()`	Get / set the number of fixed columns on the right side of a table
FixedColumns	`fixedColumns().start()`	Get / set the number of columns fixed at the start of a table
FixedHeader	`fixedHeader.adjust()`	Recalculate the position of the table and redraw the fixed elements
FixedHeader	`fixedHeader.disable()`	Disable the fixed elements
FixedHeader	`fixedHeader.enable()`	Enable / disable the fixed elements
FixedHeader	`fixedHeader.enabled()`	Get the current enabled status
FixedHeader	`fixedHeader.footerOffset()`	Get / set the fixed footer's offset
FixedHeader	`fixedHeader.headerOffset()`	Get / set the fixed header's offset
KeyTable	`cell().focus()`	Focus on a cell
KeyTable	`cell.blur()`	Blur focus from the table
KeyTable	`keys.disable()`	Disable KeyTable's interactions (mouse and keyboard)
KeyTable	`keys.enable()`	Enable or disable KeyTable's interactions (mouse and keyboard)
KeyTable	`keys.enabled()`	Determine the KeyTable enabled state for a table
KeyTable	`keys.move()`	Move the focus to an adjacent cell
Responsive	`column().responsiveHidden()`	Get the responsive visibility state of a column in the table
Responsive	`columns().responsiveHidden()`	Get the responsive visibility state of columns in the table
Responsive	`responsive.hasHidden()`	Determine if Responsive has hidden any columns in the table
Responsive	`responsive.index()`	Obtain the cell index from a `li` details element
Responsive	`responsive.rebuild()`	Recalculate the column breakpoints based on the class information of the column header cells
Responsive	`responsive.recalc()`	Recalculate the widths used by responsive after a change in the display
RowGroup	`rowGroup().dataSrc()`	Get / set the data source for the row grouping
RowGroup	`rowGroup().disable()`	Disable RowGroup's interaction with the table
RowGroup	`rowGroup().enable()`	Enable or disable RowGroup's interaction with the table
RowGroup	`rowGroup().enabled()`	Determine if RowGroup is enabled on a table
RowReorder	`rowReorder.disable()`	Disable the user's ability to reorder rows.
RowReorder	`rowReorder.enable()`	Enable / disable the user's ability to reorder rows.
Scroller	`row().scrollTo()`	Scroll to a specific row
Scroller	`scroller.measure()`	Recalculate the cached measurements that Scroller uses
Scroller	`scroller.page()`	Get information about the rows that are currently being displayed
Scroller	`scroller.toPosition()`	Scroll to a specific row display index
SearchBuilder	`searchBuilder.container()`	Returns the node of the SearchBuilder container.
SearchBuilder	`searchBuilder.getDetails()`	Get the details of the current search setup
SearchBuilder	`searchBuilder.rebuild()`	Rebuild the search to a given state
SearchPanes	`searchPanes.clearSelections()`	Clears the selections in all of the panes
SearchPanes	`searchPanes.container()`	Returns the node of the panes container.
SearchPanes	`searchPanes.rebuildPane()`	Rebuild the pane, regathering options from the table.
SearchPanes	`searchPanes.resizePanes()`	Resize all of the panes to fill the SearchPanes container appropriately.
Select	`cell().deselect()`	Deselect a single cell
Select	`cell().select()`	Select a single cell
Select	`cell().selected()`	Determine if a cell has been selected
Select	`cells().deselect()`	Deselect cells
Select	`cells().select()`	Select cells
Select	`column().deselect()`	Deselect a single column
Select	`column().select()`	Select a single column
Select	`column().selected()`	Determine if a column has been selected
Select	`columns().deselect()`	Deselect columns
Select	`columns().select()`	Select columns
Select	`row().deselect()`	Deselect a single row
Select	`row().select()`	Select a single row
Select	`row().selected()`	Determine if a row has been selected
Select	`rows().deselect()`	Deselect rows
Select	`rows().select()`	Select rows
Select	`select()`	Initialise Select from outside of the constructor
Select	`select.blurable()`	Get / set the blurable state of the table's item selection options
Select	`select.info()`	Get / set the information summary display state
Select	`select.items()`	Get / set the items that Select will select based on user interaction (rows, columns or cells)
Select	`select.selector()`	Get / set the item selector for mouse event capture
Select	`select.style()`	Get / set the style by which the end user can select items in the table
Select	`select.toggleable()`	Get / set the behaviour if items can be deselected when a selected item is clicked on
StateRestore	`stateRestore.activeStates()`	Get the details of all of the currently active states
StateRestore	`stateRestore.state()`	Get a state from StateRestore
StateRestore	`stateRestore.state().load()`	Load a state from StateRestore into the table
StateRestore	`stateRestore.state().remove()`	Remove a state from StateRestore
StateRestore	`stateRestore.state().rename()`	Rename a state from StateRestore
StateRestore	`stateRestore.state().save()`	Save a state from StateRestore
StateRestore	`stateRestore.state.add()`	Create a new state
StateRestore	`stateRestore.states()`	Get states from StateRestore
StateRestore	`stateRestore.states().remove()`	Remove states from StateRestore