diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/crumb.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/crumb.js
index 47cd1ccd..5e75fafd 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/crumb.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/crumb.js
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ let $crumbbar;
 
 
 function createHtml(item) {
-    const $html = jq(crumbTemplate).data('item', item);
+    const $html = jq(crumbTemplate);
+    $html[0]._item = item;
     item.elCrumb = $html[0];
     location.setLink($html, item);
 
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-aud.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-aud.js
index 564cdc51..e4c39f36 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-aud.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-aud.js
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ function initItem(item) {
         item.$view.find('a').on('click', ev => {
             ev.preventDefault();
 
-            const matchedItems = lo.compact(lo.map(jq('#items .item'), matchedItem => {
-                matchedItem = jq(matchedItem).data('item');
+            const matchedItems = lo.compact(lo.map(jq('#items .item'), el => {
+                const matchedItem = el._item;
                 return lo.includes(settings.types, matchedItem.type) ? matchedItem : null;
             }));
 
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-img.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-img.js
index 7cb88599..3e557a81 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-img.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-img.js
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ function initItem(item) {
         item.$view.find('a').on('click', ev => {
             ev.preventDefault();
 
-            const matchedItems = lo.compact(lo.map(jq('#items .item'), matchedItem => {
-                matchedItem = jq(matchedItem).data('item');
+            const matchedItems = lo.compact(lo.map(jq('#items .item'), el => {
+                const matchedItem = el._item;
                 return lo.includes(settings.types, matchedItem.type) ? matchedItem : null;
             }));
 
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-txt.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-txt.js
index 32d588e5..397f0ff0 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-txt.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-txt.js
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ function initItem(item) {
         item.$view.find('a').on('click', ev => {
             ev.preventDefault();
 
-            const matchedItems = lo.compact(lo.map(jq('#items .item'), matchedItem => {
-                matchedItem = jq(matchedItem).data('item');
+            const matchedItems = lo.compact(lo.map(jq('#items .item'), el => {
+                const matchedItem = el._item;
                 return lo.includes(lo.keys(settings.types), matchedItem.type) ? matchedItem : null;
             }));
 
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-vid.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-vid.js
index 3c897e09..bb11243f 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-vid.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview-vid.js
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ function initItem(item) {
         item.$view.find('a').on('click', ev => {
             ev.preventDefault();
 
-            const matchedItems = lo.compact(lo.map(jq('#items .item'), matchedItem => {
-                matchedItem = jq(matchedItem).data('item');
+            const matchedItems = lo.compact(lo.map(jq('#items .item'), el => {
+                const matchedItem = el._item;
                 return lo.includes(settings.types, matchedItem.type) ? matchedItem : null;
             }));
 
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/select.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/select.js
index 03e4f5f2..320022fe 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/select.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/select.js
@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@ const $selectionRect = jq('<div id="selection-rect"/>');
 
 
 function publish() {
-    const items = lo.map(jq('#items .item.selected'), itemElement => {
-        return jq(itemElement).data('item');
-    });
+    const items = lo.map(jq('#items .item.selected'), el => el._item);
     event.pub('selection', items);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/tree.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/tree.js
index 2d36a3de..8682f09b 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/tree.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/tree.js
@@ -53,9 +53,8 @@ function update(item) {
     const $img = $html.find('.icon img');
     const $label = $html.find('.label');
 
-    $html
-        .addClass(item.isFolder() ? 'folder' : 'file')
-        .data('item', item);
+    $html.addClass(item.isFolder() ? 'folder' : 'file');
+    $html[0]._item = item;
 
     location.setLink($a, item);
     $img.attr('src', resource.icon('folder'));
@@ -126,7 +125,7 @@ function createOnIndicatorClick() {
     return ev => {
         let $indicator = jq(ev.currentTarget);
         let $item = $indicator.closest('.item');
-        const item = $item.data('item');
+        const item = $item[0]._item;
         let $content = $item.find('> ul.content');
 
         if ($indicator.hasClass('unknown')) {
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/view/view.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/view/view.js
index 2b872998..05f11cae 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/view/view.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/view/view.js
@@ -127,9 +127,7 @@ const createHtml = item => {
     const $date = $html.find('.date');
     const $size = $html.find('.size');
 
-    $html
-        .addClass(item.isFolder() ? 'folder' : 'file')
-        .data('item', item);
+    $html.addClass(item.isFolder() ? 'folder' : 'file');
     $html[0]._item = item;
 
     location.setLink($a, item);