[ JS | template ] Base structure of jQuery plugin (with methods and options

jQuery_plugin_base.js

(function($) {
    /**
     * IMPORTANTE!
     * if you call methods via methods._methodName(); entire context is LOST,
     * therefore you cannot reference to your object as `this`, so a good way 
     * to fix it is to call them like that:
     *    methods._private.call($(this)); // which will keep object as `this`
     **/
    // this object is available only inside of this function
    var methods = {
        init:function(options){
            console.log("plugin initialized");

            // extends settings if init called with map passed
            if(typeof options =="object") settings = $.extend(settings,options);

            return this.each(function(){
                // contents of main action
                methods.public.call($(this));
            });
        },
        public:function( this ) {
            console.log("public() method called");
            // may be called from outside of plugin body,
            // ex. $(body).pluginName('public');
            // or, when called internally may be called as:
            // methods.private.call($(this));
        },
        _private:function( this ) {
            console.log("_private() method called");
            // may not be called from outside of the plugin body
            // only way to call it is: methods._private.call($(this));
        }
    }

    // default plugin settings; overriten when plugin called with map passed
    var settings = {
        param1: null,
        param2: null
    }

    /* handles:
     * calls without parameters: $(body).pluginName(); - runs methods.init();
     * calls with particular function: $(body).pluginName('public'); - runs methods.public();
     * calls with params map passed $(body).pluginName({param1:"black",param2:"Fuck You, that's why!"}); - calls methods.init(map);
     *     and extends settings object by parameters passed via map
     * invalid calls: returns textual errors
     */
    $.fn.pluginName = function( method ) {
        // second condition here will disable calling functions starting from "_".
        //   ex. `$(selector).filterGroup('_someFunction');` will return error
        if( methods[method] && method[0]!=="_" ) return methods[ method ].apply( this, Array.prototype.slice.call( arguments, 1 ));
        else if ( typeof method === 'object' || ! method ) return methods.init.apply( this, arguments );
        else $.error( 'Method ' +  method + ' does not exist on jQuery.tooltip' );
    });

})(jQuery);