jQuery plugin boilerplate

plugin.jquery.js

/* 
 * Minimal tooltip for jQuery by Federico Ramirez 
 * 
 * Usage: $('#myElement').myPlugin({});
 *        $('#myElement').myPlygin('myMethod', arg1, arg2);
 * */
;(function ($, window, document, undefined) {
    'use strict';

    var pluginName = 'myPlugin',
        defaults = {
          myParam: 'myValue'
        };

    // The actual plugin constructor
    function Plugin (element, options) {
        this.$el = $(element);
        this.settings = $.extend({}, defaults, options);
        this._defaults = defaults;
        this._name = pluginName;
        this.init();
    }

    Plugin.prototype = {
        init: function () {
            // initialize your plugin
            // return the element for chainability
            return this.$el;
        },

        someMethod: function () {
            // do something in the method
            // return the element for chainability, if your method
            // returns some value just remove this
            return this.$el;
        }
    };

    // Instantiation or method call, accordingly
    $.fn[pluginName] = function (options) {
        var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments);
        
        this.each(function() {
            var instance = $.data(this, 'plugin_' + pluginName),
                method;
            
            if (!instance) {
                $.data( this, 'plugin_' + pluginName, new Plugin(this, options));
            } else {
                method = args.shift();
                return instance[method].apply(instance, args);
            }
        });
        
        // chain jQuery functions
        return this;
    };

})(jQuery, window, document);