diff --git a/docs/demos/27-load-json/additional_data.json b/docs/demos/27-load-json/additional_data.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89505b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/demos/27-load-json/additional_data.json
@@ -0,0 +1,306 @@
+[{
+  "name": "Lareina Jones",
+  "extension": "8642",
+  "city": "East Linton",
+  "start_date": "2009/07/08"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Joshua Weiss",
+  "extension": "2289",
+  "city": "Saint-Léonard",
+  "start_date": "2010/15/01"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Kiona Lowery",
+  "extension": "5952",
+  "city": "Inuvik",
+  "start_date": "2002/17/12"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Nina Rush",
+  "extension": "7567",
+  "city": "Bo‘lhe",
+  "start_date": "2008/27/01"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Palmer Parker",
+  "extension": "2000",
+  "city": "Stade",
+  "start_date": "2012/24/07"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Vielka Olsen",
+  "extension": "3745",
+  "city": "Vrasene",
+  "start_date": "2016/08/01"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Meghan Cunningham",
+  "extension": "8604",
+  "city": "Söke",
+  "start_date": "2007/16/02"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Iola Shaw",
+  "extension": "6447",
+  "city": "Albany",
+  "start_date": "2014/05/03"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Imelda Cole",
+  "extension": "4564",
+  "city": "Haasdonk",
+  "start_date": "2007/16/11"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Jerry Beach",
+  "extension": "6801",
+  "city": "Gattatico",
+  "start_date": "1999/07/07"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Garrett Rocha",
+  "extension": "3938",
+  "city": "Gavorrano",
+  "start_date": "2000/06/08"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Derek Kerr",
+  "extension": "1724",
+  "city": "Gualdo Cattaneo",
+  "start_date": "2014/21/01"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Shad Hudson",
+  "extension": "5944",
+  "city": "Salamanca",
+  "start_date": "2014/10/12"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Daryl Ayers",
+  "extension": "8276",
+  "city": "Barchi",
+  "start_date": "2012/12/11"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Caleb Livingston",
+  "extension": "3094",
+  "city": "Fatehpur",
+  "start_date": "2014/13/02"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Sydney Meyer",
+  "extension": "4576",
+  "city": "Neubrandenburg",
+  "start_date": "2015/06/02"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Lani Lawrence",
+  "extension": "8501",
+  "city": "Turnhout",
+  "start_date": "2008/07/05"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Allegra Shepherd",
+  "extension": "2576",
+  "city": "Meeuwen-Gruitrode",
+  "start_date": "2004/19/04"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Fallon Reyes",
+  "extension": "3178",
+  "city": "Monceau-sur-Sambre",
+  "start_date": "2005/15/02"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Karen Whitley",
+  "extension": "4357",
+  "city": "Sluis",
+  "start_date": "2003/02/05"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Stewart Stephenson",
+  "extension": "5350",
+  "city": "Villa Faraldi",
+  "start_date": "2003/05/07"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Ursula Reynolds",
+  "extension": "7544",
+  "city": "Southampton",
+  "start_date": "1999/16/12"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Adrienne Winters",
+  "extension": "4425",
+  "city": "Laguna Blanca",
+  "start_date": "2014/15/09"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Francesca Brock",
+  "extension": "1337",
+  "city": "Oban",
+  "start_date": "2000/12/06"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Ursa Davenport",
+  "extension": "7629",
+  "city": "New Plymouth",
+  "start_date": "2013/27/06"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Mark Brock",
+  "extension": "3310",
+  "city": "Veenendaal",
+  "start_date": "2006/08/09"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Dale Rush",
+  "extension": "5050",
+  "city": "Chicoutimi",
+  "start_date": "2000/27/03"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Shellie Murphy",
+  "extension": "3845",
+  "city": "Marlborough",
+  "start_date": "2013/13/11"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Porter Nicholson",
+  "extension": "4539",
+  "city": "Bismil",
+  "start_date": "2012/22/10"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Oliver Huber",
+  "extension": "1265",
+  "city": "Hannche",
+  "start_date": "2002/11/01"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Calista Maynard",
+  "extension": "3315",
+  "city": "Pozzuolo del Friuli",
+  "start_date": "2006/23/03"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Lois Vargas",
+  "extension": "6825",
+  "city": "Cumberland",
+  "start_date": "1999/25/04"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Hermione Dickson",
+  "extension": "2785",
+  "city": "Woodstock",
+  "start_date": "2001/22/03"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Dalton Jennings",
+  "extension": "5416",
+  "city": "Dudzele",
+  "start_date": "2015/09/02"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Cathleen Kramer",
+  "extension": "3380",
+  "city": "Crowsnest Pass",
+  "start_date": "2012/27/07"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Zachery Morgan",
+  "extension": "6730",
+  "city": "Collines-de-l'Outaouais",
+  "start_date": "2006/04/09"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Yoko Freeman",
+  "extension": "4077",
+  "city": "Lidköping",
+  "start_date": "2002/27/12"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Chaim Waller",
+  "extension": "4240",
+  "city": "North Shore",
+  "start_date": "2010/25/07"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Berk Johnston",
+  "extension": "4532",
+  "city": "Vergnies",
+  "start_date": "2016/23/02"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Tad Munoz",
+  "extension": "2902",
+  "city": "Saint-Nazaire",
+  "start_date": "2010/09/05"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Vivien Dominguez",
+  "extension": "5653",
+  "city": "Bargagli",
+  "start_date": "2001/09/01"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Carissa Lara",
+  "extension": "3241",
+  "city": "Sherborne",
+  "start_date": "2015/07/12"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Hammett Gordon",
+  "extension": "8101",
+  "city": "Wah",
+  "start_date": "1998/06/09"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Walker Nixon",
+  "extension": "6901",
+  "city": "Metz",
+  "start_date": "2011/12/11"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Nathan Espinoza",
+  "extension": "5956",
+  "city": "Strathcona County",
+  "start_date": "2002/25/01"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Kelly Cameron",
+  "extension": "4836",
+  "city": "Fontaine-Valmont",
+  "start_date": "1999/02/07"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Kyra Moses",
+  "extension": "3796",
+  "city": "Quenast",
+  "start_date": "1998/07/07"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Grace Bishop",
+  "extension": "8340",
+  "city": "Rodez",
+  "start_date": "2012/02/10"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Haviva Hernandez",
+  "extension": "8136",
+  "city": "Suwałki",
+  "start_date": "2000/30/01"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Alisa Horn",
+  "extension": "9853",
+  "city": "Ucluelet",
+  "start_date": "2007/01/11"
+},
+{
+  "name": "Zelenia Roman",
+  "extension": "7516",
+  "city": "Redwater",
+  "start_date": "2012/03/03"
+}]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/demos/27-load-json/index.html b/docs/demos/27-load-json/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bdf3b46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/demos/27-load-json/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+    <head>
+        <meta charset="UTF-8">
+        <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
+        <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="../../favicon.svg">
+        <title>Load JSON - simple-datatables</title>
+        <!-- DataTable Styles -->
+        <link rel="stylesheet" href="../dist/css/style.css">
+        <!-- Demo Styles -->
+        <link rel="stylesheet" href="../demo.css">
+    </head>
+    <body>
+        <header>
+            <h1>
+                <a href="../../">simple-datatables</a>
+            </h1>
+            <a href="../../documentation">Documentation</a>
+            <a href="../">Demos</a>
+        </header>
+
+        <h2>Load JSON</h2>
+
+        <table id="demo-table"></table>
+
+        <script type="module">
+            import {DataTable} from "../dist/module.js"
+
+            fetch("initial_data.json")
+                .then(response => response.json())
+                .then(data => {
+                    window.dt = new DataTable("#demo-table", {
+                        columns: [
+                            {
+                                // select the fourth column ...
+                                select: 3,
+                                // ... let the instance know we have datetimes in it ...
+                                type: "date",
+                                // ... pass the correct datetime format ...
+                                format: "YYYY/DD/MM",
+                                // ... sort it ...
+                                sort: "desc"
+                            }
+                        ],
+                        data: {
+                            headings: [
+                                {
+                                    text: "Name",
+                                    data: "name"
+                                }, {
+                                    text: "Ext.",
+                                    data: "extension"
+                                }, {
+                                    text: "City",
+                                    data: "city"
+                                }, {
+                                    text: "Start date",
+                                    data: "start_date"
+                                }
+                            ],
+                            data
+                        }
+        })
+
+                    fetch("additional_data.json")
+                        .then(response => response.json())
+                        .then(data => window.dt.insert(data))
+                })
+        </script>
+    </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/docs/demos/27-load-json/initial_data.json b/docs/demos/27-load-json/initial_data.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fdc121
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/demos/27-load-json/initial_data.json
@@ -0,0 +1,296 @@
+[
+  {
+    "name": "Unity Pugh",
+    "extension": "9958",
+    "city": "Curicó",
+    "start_date": "2005/02/11"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Theodore Duran",
+    "extension": "8971",
+    "city": "Dhanbad",
+    "start_date": "1999/04/07"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Kylie Bishop",
+    "extension": "3147",
+    "city": "Norman",
+    "start_date": "2005/09/08"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Willow Gilliam",
+    "extension": "3497",
+    "city": "Amqui",
+    "start_date": "2009/29/11"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Blossom Dickerson",
+    "extension": "5018",
+    "city": "Kempten",
+    "start_date": "2006/11/09"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Elliott Snyder",
+    "extension": "3925",
+    "city": "Enines",
+    "start_date": "2006/03/08"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Castor Pugh",
+    "extension": "9488",
+    "city": "Neath",
+    "start_date": "2014/23/12"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Pearl Carlson",
+    "extension": "6231",
+    "city": "Cobourg",
+    "start_date": "2014/31/08"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Deirdre Bridges",
+    "extension": "1579",
+    "city": "Eberswalde-Finow",
+    "start_date": "2014/26/08"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Daniel Baldwin",
+    "extension": "6095",
+    "city": "Moircy",
+    "start_date": "2000/11/01"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Phelan Kane",
+    "extension": "9519",
+    "city": "Germersheim",
+    "start_date": "1999/16/04"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Quentin Salas",
+    "extension": "1339",
+    "city": "Los Andes",
+    "start_date": "2011/26/01"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Armand Suarez",
+    "extension": "6583",
+    "city": "Funtua",
+    "start_date": "1999/06/11"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Gretchen Rogers",
+    "extension": "5393",
+    "city": "Moxhe",
+    "start_date": "1998/26/10"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Harding Thompson",
+    "extension": "2824",
+    "city": "Abeokuta",
+    "start_date": "2008/06/08"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Mira Rocha",
+    "extension": "4393",
+    "city": "Port Harcourt",
+    "start_date": "2002/04/10"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Drew Phillips",
+    "extension": "2931",
+    "city": "Goes",
+    "start_date": "2011/18/10"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Emerald Warner",
+    "extension": "6205",
+    "city": "Chiavari",
+    "start_date": "2002/08/04"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Colin Burch",
+    "extension": "7457",
+    "city": "Anamur",
+    "start_date": "2004/02/01"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Russell Haynes",
+    "extension": "8916",
+    "city": "Frascati",
+    "start_date": "2015/28/04"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Brennan Brooks",
+    "extension": "9011",
+    "city": "Olmué",
+    "start_date": "2000/18/04"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Kane Anthony",
+    "extension": "8075",
+    "city": "LaSalle",
+    "start_date": "2006/21/05"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Scarlett Hurst",
+    "extension": "1019",
+    "city": "Brampton",
+    "start_date": "2015/07/01"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "James Scott",
+    "extension": "3008",
+    "city": "Meux",
+    "start_date": "2007/30/05"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Desiree Ferguson",
+    "extension": "9054",
+    "city": "Gojra",
+    "start_date": "2009/15/02"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Elaine Bishop",
+    "extension": "9160",
+    "city": "Petrópolis",
+    "start_date": "2008/23/12"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Hilda Nelson",
+    "extension": "6307",
+    "city": "Posina",
+    "start_date": "2004/23/05"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Evangeline Beasley",
+    "extension": "3820",
+    "city": "Caplan",
+    "start_date": "2009/12/03"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Wyatt Riley",
+    "extension": "5694",
+    "city": "Cavaion Veronese",
+    "start_date": "2012/19/02"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Wyatt Mccarthy",
+    "extension": "3547",
+    "city": "Patan",
+    "start_date": "2014/23/06"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Cairo Rice",
+    "extension": "6273",
+    "city": "Ostra Vetere",
+    "start_date": "2016/27/02"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Sylvia Peters",
+    "extension": "6829",
+    "city": "Arrah",
+    "start_date": "2015/03/02"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Kasper Craig",
+    "extension": "5515",
+    "city": "Firenze",
+    "start_date": "2015/26/04"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Leigh Ruiz",
+    "extension": "5112",
+    "city": "Lac Ste. Anne",
+    "start_date": "2001/09/02"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Athena Aguirre",
+    "extension": "5741",
+    "city": "Romeral",
+    "start_date": "2010/24/03"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Riley Nunez",
+    "extension": "5533",
+    "city": "Sart-Eustache",
+    "start_date": "2003/26/02"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Lois Talley",
+    "extension": "9393",
+    "city": "Dorchester",
+    "start_date": "2014/05/01"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Hop Bass",
+    "extension": "1024",
+    "city": "Westerlo",
+    "start_date": "2012/25/09"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Kalia Diaz",
+    "extension": "9184",
+    "city": "Ichalkaranji",
+    "start_date": "2013/26/06"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Maia Pate",
+    "extension": "6682",
+    "city": "Louvain-la-Neuve",
+    "start_date": "2011/23/04"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Macaulay Pruitt",
+    "extension": "4457",
+    "city": "Fraser-Fort George",
+    "start_date": "2015/03/08"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Danielle Oconnor",
+    "extension": "9464",
+    "city": "Neuwied",
+    "start_date": "2001/05/10"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Kato Carr",
+    "extension": "4842",
+    "city": "Faridabad",
+    "start_date": "2012/11/05"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Malachi Mejia",
+    "extension": "7133",
+    "city": "Vorst",
+    "start_date": "2007/25/04"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Dominic Carver",
+    "extension": "3476",
+    "city": "Pointe-aux-Trembles",
+    "start_date": "2014/14/03"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Paki Santos",
+    "extension": "4424",
+    "city": "Cache Creek",
+    "start_date": "2001/18/11"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Ross Hodges",
+    "extension": "1862",
+    "city": "Trazegnies",
+    "start_date": "2010/19/09"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Hilda Whitley",
+    "extension": "3514",
+    "city": "New Sarepta",
+    "start_date": "2011/05/07"
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "Roth Cherry",
+    "extension": "4006",
+    "city": "Flin Flon",
+    "start_date": "2008/02/09"
+  }
+]
diff --git a/docs/demos/index.html b/docs/demos/index.html
index 0c10f68..17f35c5 100644
--- a/docs/demos/index.html
+++ b/docs/demos/index.html
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ <h2>Demos</h2>
             <a href="24-footer/">Custom footer</a>
             <a href="25-cell-attributes/">Cell attributes</a>
             <a href="26-numeric-sort/">Numeric sort</a>
+            <a href="27-load-json/">Load JSON</a>
         </nav>
     </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/src/datatable.ts b/src/datatable.ts
index 1303ea3..b391a40 100644
--- a/src/datatable.ts
+++ b/src/datatable.ts
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ export class DataTable {
         {headings?: string[], data?: (inputRowType | inputCellType[])[]} | { [key: string]: inputCellType}[])) {
         let rows: dataRowType[] = []
         if (Array.isArray(data)) {
-            const headings = this.data.headings.map((heading: headerCellType) => heading.text ?? String(heading.data))
+            const headings = this.data.headings.map((heading: headerCellType) => heading.data ? String(heading.data) : heading.text)
             data.forEach((row, rIndex) => {
                 const r: cellType[] = []
                 Object.entries(row).forEach(([heading, cell]) => {
diff --git a/src/read_data.ts b/src/read_data.ts
index dd36ee0..2daa450 100644
--- a/src/read_data.ts
+++ b/src/read_data.ts
@@ -230,15 +230,25 @@ export const readTableData = (dataOption: DataOption, dom: (HTMLTableElement | u
         }
     }
     if (dataOption.data) {
+        const headings = data.headings.map((heading: headerCellType) => heading.data ? String(heading.data) : heading.text)
         data.data = dataOption.data.map((row: inputRowType | inputCellType[]) => {
             let attributes: { [key: string]: string }
             let cells: inputCellType[]
             if (Array.isArray(row)) {
                 attributes = {}
                 cells = row
-            } else {
+            } else if (row.hasOwnProperty("cells") && Object.keys(row).every(key => ["cells", "attributes"].includes(key))) {
                 attributes = row.attributes
                 cells = row.cells
+            } else {
+                attributes = {}
+                cells = []
+                Object.entries(row).forEach(([heading, cell]) => {
+                    const index = headings.indexOf(heading)
+                    if (index > -1) {
+                        cells[index] = cell
+                    }
+                })
             }
             return {
                 attributes,