Regex Routing Using Backbone.JS

Introduction

In this article we will learn about Regular Expression Routing. If you want to be more selective in your routing and the route URL that matches the specified criteria then we can use a regular expression. Using it, the routers are converted into a regular expression object. There is only the "Router.route" method support for adding this types of route at a time.

In this tutorial we create a list of electronic and non-electronic devices and create a regular expression for both electronic devices and non-electronic devices. Here we create the regular expression for an electronic device in which we define that all electronic devices starting with the "M" character.

Now let's see how to create this application.

  1. Use the following procedure to create the web application:
  • Start Visual Studio 2013.
  • From the Start window select "New Project".
  • Select "Installed" -> "Template" -> "Visual C#" -> "Web" -> "Visual Studio 2012" and select "ASP.NET Empty Web Application".

Create Web Application

  • Click on the "OK" button.
  1. Now add the HTML Page to the project:
  • In the Solution Explorer.
  • Right-click on the project and select "Add" -> "HTML Page".

Add HTML Page

  • Change the name.
  • Then click on the "OK" button.

Change Name

Add the following code:

<!doctype html>

<html>

<head>

    <title>Devices</title>

    </head>

    <body>

        <p><a href="#/which-type-device">Device Instructions</a></p>

        <h3>Types of Device</h3>

        <ul class="device">

        </ul>

        <hr>

        <script src="js/jquery.min.js"></script>

        <script src="js/underscore.min.js"></script>

        <script src="js/backbone.min.js"></script>

        <script src="device.js"></script>

    </body>

</html>

 

  1. Now we add a JavaScript as in the following:
  • In the Solution Explorer.
  • Right-click on the project then select "Add" -> "New Item" -> "JavaScript".

Add JavaScript file

  • Click on the "Add" button.

Add the following code:

//Create Model

var Device= Backbone.Model.extend();

//Create View

var DeviceView = Backbone.View.extend({

    tagName: 'li',

    template: _.template('<a href="#device/<%= name.toLowerCase() %>"><%= name %></a>'),

    render: function () {

        this.$el.append(this.template(this.model.toJSON()));

        return this;

    }

});

var DeviceRouter = Backbone.Router.extend({

    routes: {},

    electronicDevice: function (name) {

        alert('It is an electronic device ' + name + '!');

    },

    nonelectronicDevice: function (name) {

        alert('That ' + name + ' is not a electronic device');

    },

    deviceWhichType: function () {

        alert('Choose a device\n\n(hint:theelectronic device start with\'m\')');

    },

    initialize: function () {

        var router = this,

            routes = [

                [/^device\/([a-z]+)$/'getNonElectronicDevice'this.nonelectronicDevice],

                [/^device\/(m[a-z]+)$/'getElectronicDevice'this.electronicDevice],

                ['which-type-device''getAllDevice'this.deviceWhichType]

            ];

        _.each(routes, function (route) {

            router.route.apply(router, route);

        });

    }

});

_.each(['MobilePhone''Cycle''Monitor''Car''MicroWave''Chair'], function (device) {

    var model = new Device({ name: device }),

view = new DeviceView({

    model: model

});

    view.render().$el.appendTo('.device');

});

new DeviceRouter();

Backbone.history.start();

 

  1. Now execute the application:

displaylistof devices

There are various links; click on the link.

Displaytypesofdevice

Displaynonelectronindevice

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