var extendedRouter = Backbone.Router.extend({ initialize: function () { this.route('help', 'help'); //will look for this.help (i.e. myRouter[help]) }, help:function(){ //will be an instance property console.log('The url hash just change to /#help'); } }); //create a Backbone Router var myRouter = new extendedRouter(); //tell Backbone to start listening for changes in the URL Backbone.history.start(); //change url hash to "#help" window.location.hash = 'help';