Backbone.js model property is getting not defined error - backbone.js

Question

I'm very new to Backbone.js and am trying to get this simple example working. Basically, in jsFiddle when I run the code it tells me that the property "firstname" is not defined.
Here's a link to the fiddle:
http://jsfiddle.net/cpeele00/YjUBG/16/
var User = Backbone.Model.extend({});
var UserList = Backbone.Collection.extend({
model: User
});
var UserView = Backbone.View.extend({
el: $('#user-list ul'),
template: _.template($('#user-list-template').html()),
render: function() {
this.$el.html(this.template(this.model.toJSON()));
return this;
}
});
var user1 = new User();
user1.set({
firstname: 'Momo',
lastname: 'Peele'
});
var user2 = new User();
user2.set({
firstname: 'Bobo',
lastname: 'Peele'
});
var users = new UserList([user1, user2]);
var userView = new UserView({model: users});
userView.render();
​
Any help figuring this out would be greatly appreciated.
V/R
Chris

Answer 1

Since the model is actually a collection, you need to iterate over it, and apply the template to each model in the collection. One way is to use the Underscore extension Collection.each:
render: function() {
// clear the view
this.$el.empty();
// save a reference to the view object
var self = this;
// iterate over the collection
this.model.each(function(singleModel) {
// render the model
self.$el.append(self.template(singleModel.toJSON()));
});
return this;
}
Here's the updated Fiddle.
(You could also put the iteration into the template itself if you like, but I think it's generally preferable to keep code in the view, rather than the template.)