Why is datatables defined as datatables.net and not datatables?

retrospaceman

Just as the title states, in the datattables.js file why when datatablaes is defined is it called datatables.net?

Example code from the datatables.js file I downloaded (Not sure if this is relevant info, but it includes plugins / extensions: responsive, buttons):

/*! DataTables styling integration
 * ©2018 SpryMedia Ltd - datatables.net/license
 */

(function( factory ){
    if ( typeof define === 'function' && define.amd ) {
        // AMD
        define( ['jquery', 'datatables.net'], function ( $ ) {
            return factory( $, window, document );
        } );
    }
    else if ( typeof exports === 'object' ) {
        // CommonJS
        var jq = require('jquery');
        var cjsRequires = function (root, $) {
            if ( ! $.fn.dataTable ) {
                require('datatables.net')(root, $);
            }
        };

        if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
            module.exports = function (root, $) {
                if ( ! root ) {
                    // CommonJS environments without a window global must pass a
                    // root. This will give an error otherwise
                    root = window;
                }

                if ( ! $ ) {
                    $ = jq( root );
                }

                cjsRequires( root, $ );
                return factory( $, root, root.document );
            };
        }
        else {
            cjsRequires( window, jq );
            module.exports = factory( jq, window, window.document );
        }
    }
    else {
        // Browser
        factory( jQuery, window, document );
    }
}(function( $, window, document, undefined ) {
'use strict';
var DataTable = $.fn.dataTable;

return DataTable;
}));

My understanding of define and require are they pull in files with the given names, but datatables has no datables.net file?

To my eye it looks like its asking for a file that doesnt exist as there is no datatables.net

Why is not just defined / required as datatables?

I understand this is probably just a limitation of my understanding with how require and define work, would appreciate any knowledge that can be given, thankyou.

allan

You are refering to:

define( ['jquery', 'datatables.net'], function ( $ ) {

in the AMD loader and:

require('datatables.net')(root, $);

in the CommonJS loader?

They refer to the NPM package name so that Node.js and builders that utilise NPM, Yarn, etc (Webpack / Vite, ESBuild, etc) can look them up that way.

In Node.js the CommonJS require can be used to refer to a file, but you need to indicate that it is referring to a file not a package name, typically by prefixing the string with ./.

Also with the AMD loader, and specifically Require.js which implements that, you can map the names however you want. I made use of that in this blog post.

Hope that helps a bit

Allan

retrospaceman

Amazing, thank-you for the info and quick response Allan