Does Datatables always require a pre-existing HTML table to exist first?

Basementjack

Hi, just starting with Datatables,

All the examples I see look like they start out with an HTML table before DT gets to work.
If I'm using an ajax data source, is it possible to skip that and just include an empty

<table ID="mytable"></table>

Or do the tables always need to be complete with the columns that we expect from Datatables?

• Jack

allan

If I'm using an ajax data source, is it possible to skip that and just include an empty [table]

Yes you can just use an empty table tag. Use the columns.title option to set the column header title when DataTables constructed your columns.

DataTables will automatically generate the thead and tbody elements as required.

Allan

Basementjack

Thanks Allan!