$( function() { var $hello = $( "#hello" ).click( function() { alert( "hello world" ); }); // does NOT return object that includes the events property console.log( $hello.data() ); // does return events object console.log( $hello.data( "events" ) ); // does return object that includes the events property console.log( $._data( $hello[ 0 ] ) ); // does return evetns object console.log( $._data( $hello[ 0 ], "events" ) ); });