retrieve

Retrieve an existing DataTables instance.

Description

Retrieve the DataTables object for the given selector. Note that if the table has already been initialised, this parameter will cause DataTables to simply return the object that has already been set up - it will not take account of any changes you might have made to the initialisation object passed to DataTables (setting this parameter to true is an acknowledgement that you understand this!).

The destroy option can be used to reinitialise a table with different options if required.

Type

This option can be given in the following type(s):

• boolean

Default

• Value: false

Example

$(document).ready(function () {
	initTable();
	tableActions();
});

function initTable() {
	return new DataTable('#myTable', {
		scrollY: '200px',
		paginate: false,
		retrieve: true
	});
}

function tableActions() {
	var table = initTable();

	// perform API operations with `table`
	// ...
}

Related

The following options are directly related and may also be useful in your application development.