Collection vs Model confusion in backbone.js

Question

I just started learning backbone.js. I have a problem understanding how/when use models and collections. I found several tutorial online and each of them use different approach of building the application. There are cases where data is retrieved from REST API in a Collection object, in other examples in a Model object? I also noticed in every example json data was in format like {'id':1, 'name':'some name'}. My api returns a bit more complex data structure - something like {'message':'response message', 'error':'', 'data': [{list of data objects to be manipulated},{}]}. Is it possible to use such formatted data in backbone.js.

Answer 1

Well, yes, for both of your questions. Typically here is how the Relational database system relates to backbone.js:

• Your model is a record from a table of the database.
• Your collections are the table itself. So set of models make up the collection.
• Views are used to define how your model should look and what it should do. There are views for your models, collections and intermediate data.

Your response if different; hence, you need to parse the data before it is set to the model, collection. Use the parse method and define the data key.