What's the best way to override Model.get(attr) in Backbone.js?

Question

I'm using Backbone.js for the first time, and liking it so far. One thing I can't work out at the moment in dynamic attributes of models. For example, say I have a Person model, and I want to get their full name:

var Person = Backbone.Model.extend({   getFullName: function () {     return this.get('firstName') + ' ' + this.get('surname');   } }); 

Then I could do person.getFullName(). But I'd like to keep it consistent with the other getters, more like person.get('fullName'). I don't see how to do that without messily overriding Person#get. Or is that my only option?

This is what I've got so far for the overriding option:

var Person = Backbone.Model.extend({   get: function (attr) {     switch (attr) {     case 'fullName':       return this.get('firstName') + ' ' + this.get('surname');       break;     case 'somethingElse':       return this.doSomethingClever();       break;     default:       return Backbone.Model.prototype.get.call(this, attr);     }   } }); 

I suppose it's not terrible, but it seems there should be a better way.

Answer 1

Would this be simpler?

var Person = Backbone.Model.extend({   get: function (attr) {     if (typeof this[attr] == 'function')     {       return this[attr]();     }      return Backbone.Model.prototype.get.call(this, attr);   } }); 

This way you could also override existing attributes with functions. What do you think?

Answer 2

I would think of attributes as the raw materials used by a model to provide answers to callers that ask the questions. I actually don't like having callers know too much about the internal attribute structure. Its an implementation detail. What if this structure changes?

So my answer would be: don't do it.

Create a method as you've done and hide the implementation details. Its much cleaner code and survives implementation changes.