Error: unexpected datatables/htmlwidget output

shiny
2

You need to wrap your call to DT::datatable in a renderDataTable() statement. Here's an example:

library(shiny)
library(DT)

shinyApp(
  ui = fluidPage(
    dataTableOutput("Tab")
  ),
  server = function(input, output, session) {
    output$Tab <- datatable(
      mtcars
    )
  }
)

Running the above gives me the same error as you saw:

Listening on http://127.0.0.1:3334
Warning: Error in .subset2(x, "impl")$defineOutput: Unexpected datatables output for TabUnexpected htmlwidget output for Tab
  51: stop
  50: .subset2(x, "impl")$defineOutput
  49: $<-.shinyoutput
  47: server [/cloud/project/unexpected_datatables.R#10]
Error in .subset2(x, "impl")$defineOutput(name, value, label) : 
  Unexpected datatables output for TabUnexpected htmlwidget output for Tab

But if I do this, the app works as expected:

library(shiny)
library(DT)

shinyApp(
  ui = fluidPage(
    dataTableOutput("Tab")
  ),
  server = function(input, output, session) {
    output$Tab <- renderDataTable(
      datatable(mtcars)
    )
  }
)

26
26864×512 43.7 KB

If you haven't already, it's worth taking the time to go through the shiny tutorials — they really help with understanding how all the pieces fit together with shiny code.

3 Likes