var myView = new Backbone.View({ //options... foo:'', model: {}, events: {} || function(){return {}}, collection: {}, el: '' || function(){return ''}, id: '', className: '' || function(){return ''}, tagName: '' || function(){return ''}, attributes: {'attribute':'value','attribute':'value'} }); //special options on instance console.log(Object.keys(myView)); //special & non-special options stored on options property (e.g. foo) console.log(Object.keys(myView.options));