Most common var _object = $(this)[0];

If you have more than 1 elements matched: $(this)[0], $(this)[1], $(this)[2] and so on.

$(this).get() is also possible. It's only advantage over the array model is that it allows selection of the kind $(this).get(-1) where it gets you the last matched object

var _object = $(this)[0];

I think this is right, can't check though because I'm on my phone.

In your case, simply use this.

$(this)[0] == this if this is a DOM element. If it's something else, e.g. a selector, $(this)[0] is the way to go.