Backbone.js - validating model constructor parameters

Question

I want to do simple thing with a model:

use constructor parameters if they are valid (but not just assign them, I have to map them before as they are in a different format)
in other case, use defaults

What's the recomended solution for this?

McGarnagle McGarnagle · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-01T11:35:10

You can achieve this by calling isValid() in initialize. If it's valid, then proceed as normal; otherwise, clear the model and reset it with the default values:

initialize: function() {
    console.log("initializing model...");
    if (!this.isValid()) {
        console.log("Model is not valid, using defaults");
        this.clear({ silent: true });
        this.set(this.defaults, { silent: true });
    }
    console.log("Model is valid");
},

See this working demo.

Edit

It's possible to use objects in the model constructor, for example:

var model = new Backbone.Model({
    title: "test",
    hsa: {
        h: 120,
        s: "100%",
        a: "50%"
    }
});

You could also specify it as hsa: "120, 100%, 50%" or something, and convert that value to an object in the constructor.

See here.

Backbone.js - validating model constructor parameters

1 Answers