column_filters.ctp

<h2>Column Filter</h2>

<?php $this->start('tfoot'); ?>
<tr>
    <th><input type="text" placeholder="Search id"/></th>
    <th><input type="text" placeholder="Search username"/></th>
    <th><input type="text" placeholder="Search created at"/></th>
    <th><input type="text" placeholder="Search updated at"/></th>
    <th></th>
</tr>
<?php $this->end(); ?>

<?php

echo $this->DataTable->render('User', [
    'id' => 'UsersTable',
    'tfoot' => $this->fetch('tfoot'),
]);
?>


<?php $this->Html->scriptStart(['block' => 'table_extras']); ?>
$(document).ready(function() {
    var table = $('#UsersTable');
    var oTable = table.dataTable();

    $("#UsersTable tfoot input").keyup(function () {
        /* Filter on the column (the index) of this element */
        oTable.fnFilter(this.value, $("tfoot input").index(this));
    });
});
<?php $this->Html->scriptEnd(); ?>