Proper function to re-initialize jquery datatables

Question

In SO: DataTables with different number of columns the user asked for a solution to work with datatables.js and variable amount of columns. A working solution was provided here: http://jsfiddle.net/gss4a17t/ .

This solution depends on a deprecated function:

    dataTable.fnDestroy(true);

Questions:

1. Why does the destroy() function not work here?
2. What is the difference between $('table.dataTable').DataTable().destroy(); and $('dataTable').DataTable().destroy(); in this situation?

i forked with the following jsFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/Lx4mf1ht/7/

Answer 1

1) destroy() needs a DataTable object to work. It's a method of this kind of object. fnDestroy() is a method of a dataTable object.

dataTable is different object when compared to DataTable (check the captilized D). They have different methods and that's why destroy() should not work.

2) 'table.dataTable' is used as a jQuery selector where it looks for a <table> element with a dataTable class which is OK

'dataTable' is a selector looking for a <dataTable> element I assume this one does not work since there is no such element.

Also, I am not sure what version of DataTables fiddle uses, but destroy() is there since v1.10