How to manually update datatables table with new JSON data

You can use:

$('#table').dataTable().fnClearTable();
$('#table').dataTable().fnAddData(myData2);

Jsfiddle

Update. And yes current documentation is not so good but if you are okay using older versions you can refer legacy documentation.

SOLUTION: (Notice: this solution is for datatables version 1.10.4 (at the moment) not legacy version).

CLARIFICATION Per the API documentation (1.10.15), the API can be accessed three ways:

1. The modern definition of DataTables (upper camel case):

   var datatable = $( selector ).DataTable();

2. The legacy definition of DataTables (lower camel case):

   var datatable = $( selector ).dataTable().api();

3. Using the new syntax.

   var datatable = new $.fn.dataTable.Api( selector );

Then load the data like so:

$.get('myUrl', function(newDataArray) {
    datatable.clear();
    datatable.rows.add(newDataArray);
    datatable.draw();
});

Use draw(false) to stay on the same page after the data update.

API references:

https://datatables.net/reference/api/clear()

https://datatables.net/reference/api/rows.add()

https://datatables.net/reference/api/draw()

Here is solution for legacy datatable 1.9.4

    var myData = [
      {
        "id": 1,
        "first_name": "Andy",
        "last_name": "Anderson"
      }
   ];
    var myData2 = [
      {
        "id": 2,
        "first_name": "Bob",
        "last_name": "Benson"
      }
    ];

  $('#table').dataTable({
  //  data: myData,
       aoColumns: [
         { mData: 'id' },
         { mData: 'first_name' },
         { mData: 'last_name' }
      ]
  });

 $('#table').dataTable().fnClearTable();
 $('#table').dataTable().fnAddData(myData2);

You need to destroy old data-table instance and then re-initialize data-table

First Check if data-table instance exist by using $.fn.dataTable.isDataTable

if exist then destroy it and then create new instance like this

    if ($.fn.dataTable.isDataTable('#dataTableExample')) {
        $('#dataTableExample').DataTable().destroy();
    }

    $('#dataTableExample').DataTable({
        responsive: true,
        destroy: true
    });