Backbone.js

Backbone.js is a JavaScript rich-client web app framework based on the model–view–controller design paradigm, intended to connect to an API over a RESTful JSON interface. Backbone has only hard dependency, which is on one JavaScript library,^[1] Underscore.js,. jQuery can also be optionally used for the library.^[2] It is designed for developing single-page web applications,^[3] and for keeping various parts of web applications (e.g. multiple clients and the server) synchronized.^[4] Backbone was created by Jeremy Ashkenas, who is also known for CoffeeScript and Underscore.js.

Developer	Jeremy Ashkenas
Initial release	October 13, 2010; 15 years ago (2010-10-13)
Stable release	1.6.1  / 1 April 2025; 6 months ago (1 April 2025)
Repository	Backbone.js Repository
Written in	JavaScript
Operating system	Cross-platform
Size	7.9 KB production 72 KB development
Type	JavaScript library
License	MIT
Website	backbonejs.org

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When handling the DOM Backbone.js adopts an imperative programming style, in contrast with a declarative programming style (common in AngularJS using data-attributes).^[5] Trying to provide "the minimal set of data-structuring (models and collections) and user interface (views and URLs)",^[6] leaves to the developer the choice of extensions for enhanced functionality. For example, one can use nested views with Backbone Layout Manager or model-view binding with ReSTbasis.

Use

The following web applications are built with Backbone.js:^[7]

• 500px Web^[8]
• Airbnb^[6]
• Diaspora^[6]
• Digg^[9]
• DocumentCloud^[6]
• Drupal 8^[10]
• Foursquare^[6]
• Grooveshark^[6]
• Groupon Now^[6]
• Hearsay Systems Advisor Cloud
• Hulu^[6]
• NewsBlur^[11]
• Nextcloud
• Openbravo Mobile (with Enyo).^[12]
• Pandora Radio^[6]
• ReSTbasis
• SoundCloud^[6]
• Trello^[6]
• USA Today.com^[6]
• WordPress.com^[6]
• verizon.com^[6]
• xTuple (with Enyo).^[13]