Backbone.js - custom setters

Question

Imagine a simple backbone model like

window.model= Backbone.Model.extend({
   defaults:{
      name: \"\",
      date: new Date().valueOf()
   }
})

Answer 1

UPDATE: you can use the plug-in: https://github.com/berzniz/backbone.getters.setters

---

You can override the set method like this (add it to your models):

set: function(key, value, options) {
    // Normalize the key-value into an object
    if (_.isObject(key) || key == null) {
        attrs = key;
        options = value;
    } else {
        attrs = {};
        attrs[key] = value;
    }

    // Go over all the set attributes and make your changes
    for (attr in attrs) {
        if (attr == 'name') {
            attrs['name'] = attrs['name'].toLowerCase();
        }
    }

    return Backbone.Model.prototype.set.call(this, attrs, options);
}

Answer 2

Not to toot my own horn, but I created a Backbone model with "Computed" properties to get around this. In other words

var bm = Backbone.Model.extend({
  defaults: {
     fullName: function(){return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName},
     lowerCaseName: function(){
        //Should probably belong in the view
        return this.firstName.toLowerCase();  

     }
   }
})

You also listen for changes on computed properties and pretty much just treat this as a regular one.

The plugin Bereznitskey mentioned is also a valid approach.

Answer 3

It would be a hack, because this isn't what it was made for, but you could always use a validator for this:

window.model= Backbone.Model.extend({
   validate: function(attrs) {
      if(attrs.name) {
         attrs.name = attrs.name.toLowerCase()
      }

      return true;
   }
})

The validate function will get called (as long as the silent option isn't set) before the value is set in the model, so it gives you a chance to mutate the data before it gets really set.