Defining Custom Routes in Backbone Router

In Backbone.js, routers are used to manage the application's URL and navigate between different parts of the application. A router is essentially a controller that maps URLs to actions. In this article, we will explore how to define a custom route in a Backbone Router.

Understanding Backbone Router

A Backbone Router is a class that extends the Backbone.Router class. It is used to map URLs to actions. The router is responsible for handling the application's URL and navigating between different parts of the application.

Defining a Custom Route

To define a custom route in a Backbone Router, you need to use the `routes` property of the router. The `routes` property is an object that maps URLs to actions. The keys of the object are the URLs, and the values are the actions that will be executed when the URL is matched.

var MyRouter = Backbone.Router.extend({
  routes: {
    "": "index",
    "about": "about",
    "contact": "contact"
  },
  
  index: function() {
    console.log("Index route");
  },
  
  about: function() {
    console.log("About route");
  },
  
  contact: function() {
    console.log("Contact route");
  }
});

In the above example, we have defined a custom router called `MyRouter`. The router has three routes: `""`, `"about"`, and `"contact"`. The `""` route is the default route that will be executed when the URL is empty. The `"about"` and `"contact"` routes will be executed when the URL is `/about` and `/contact` respectively.

Using Route Parameters

Backbone Router also supports route parameters. Route parameters are used to pass data from the URL to the action. To use route parameters, you need to use the `:` symbol in the URL.

var MyRouter = Backbone.Router.extend({
  routes: {
    "user/:id": "user"
  },
  
  user: function(id) {
    console.log("User route with id: " + id);
  }
});

In the above example, we have defined a custom router called `MyRouter`. The router has one route: `"user/:id"`. The `:id` part of the URL is a route parameter that will be passed to the `user` action.

Using Optional Route Parameters

Backbone Router also supports optional route parameters. Optional route parameters are used to pass data from the URL to the action, but they are not required. To use optional route parameters, you need to use the `?` symbol after the parameter name.

var MyRouter = Backbone.Router.extend({
  routes: {
    "user/:id?": "user"
  },
  
  user: function(id) {
    if (id) {
      console.log("User route with id: " + id);
    } else {
      console.log("User route without id");
    }
  }
});

In the above example, we have defined a custom router called `MyRouter`. The router has one route: `"user/:id?"`. The `:id?` part of the URL is an optional route parameter that will be passed to the `user` action.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to define a custom route in a Backbone Router. We have seen how to use the `routes` property to map URLs to actions, and how to use route parameters to pass data from the URL to the action. We have also seen how to use optional route parameters to make the route parameters optional.

FAQs

What is a Backbone Router?

A Backbone Router is a class that extends the Backbone.Router class. It is used to map URLs to actions.

How do I define a custom route in a Backbone Router?

To define a custom route in a Backbone Router, you need to use the `routes` property of the router. The `routes` property is an object that maps URLs to actions.

What are route parameters?

Route parameters are used to pass data from the URL to the action. To use route parameters, you need to use the `:` symbol in the URL.

What are optional route parameters?

Optional route parameters are used to pass data from the URL to the action, but they are not required. To use optional route parameters, you need to use the `?` symbol after the parameter name.

How do I use optional route parameters in a Backbone Router?

To use optional route parameters in a Backbone Router, you need to use the `?` symbol after the parameter name in the URL.