(function($) { "use strict"; $.widget("myWidget", { options: { editable: new Date(), url: null, test: { a: 1, b: function() { } } }, _create: function() { }, _setOption: function(key, value) { this.options[key] = value; this._change(); }, _change: function() { } }); })(jQuery); myWidget._change(); myWidget.options.test.b();