Question: ```
$("selector").data("name", null);
console.log($("selector").data("name"));

```

This prints `undefined`.

Is there anyway to instantiate a `null` item in the jQuery data object of an element, not an undefined one?

Answer: 
Yes and Your code works fine, You should check if your `$("selector")` exists
```
$("#selector").data("name", null);
console.log($("#selector").data("name"));

```

Works just fine as is, your selector might not exist.

Here's a fiddle <https://jsfiddle.net/eo32jjay/>