<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<dt-api group="static">
	<name>DataTable.isDataTable()</name>
	<summary>Check is a table node is a DataTable or not</summary>
	<since>1.11</since>

	<type type="function">
		<signature>isDataTable( table )</signature>
		<description>Check if a `-tag table` node is a DataTable table already or not.</description>
		<parameter type="string|node|jQuery|DataTable.Api" name="table">
			The table to check. This can be given as one of:

			* A DOM element
			* A jQuery selector
			* A jQuery object containing the node to check
			* A DataTables API instance.

			Note that only the first node is checked if the jQuery selector or object match multiple nodes.
		</parameter>
		<returns type="boolean">`true` the given table is a DataTable, `false` otherwise</returns>
	</type>

	<description>
		This method provides the ability to check if a `-tag table` node is already a DataTable or not. This can be useful to ensure that you don't re-initialise a table that is already a DataTable.

		Please note that this is a **static** function and is accessed through the `DataTable` or `$.fn.dataTable` object, not an API instance. It can be accessed at any time, even before any DataTables have been created on the page.

		Prior to DataTables 1.11 this method could be accessed through the `$.fn.dataTable` object only. As of 1.11, either `DataTable` or `$.fn.dataTable` can be used.
	</description>

	<example title="Non-jQuery: Check if `#example` is a DataTable or not. If not, initialise"><![CDATA[

if ( ! DataTable.isDataTable( '#example' ) ) {
  new DataTable('#example');
}

]]></example>

	<example title="jQuery: Check if `#example` is a DataTable or not. If not, initialise"><![CDATA[

if ( ! $.fn.DataTable.isDataTable( '#example' ) ) {
  $('#example').DataTable();
}

]]></example>

</dt-api>
