Backbone.js: complex views combining multiple models

Question

So far all tests and tutorials i\'ve been trying, to get the structure in my head, show me that a view is bound to 1 model.

lets say i have a small app to store and

Answer 1

In that case, I'd consider a dynamic model with both of your sub-models. In your route handler, you could do something like this:

var model = new Backbone.Model();
model.set({contacts: new ContactsModel(), users: new UsersModel()});
var view = new GridView({model: model});

Of course, there is nothing stopping you from passing in the models separately:

var contacts = new ContactsModel();
var users = new UsersModel();
var view = new GridView({model: contacts, users: users})

I still prefer the composite approach of the first because it doesn't conflate what the model is.

Answer 2

You can also consider merging both models, if you are sure they dont use the same parameters.

var modelA = new myModel({ color: "blue" });
var modelB = new otherModel({ age: 35 });

var superModel = new Backbone.Model();
superModel.set(modelA);
superModel.set(modelB);

console.log("color:", superModel.get("color"));
console.log("age:", superModel.get("age"));

take a look at Backbone.Model.extend() as well