var contact= new Backbone.Model(); var ContactView = Backbone.View.extend({ initialize:function(){ this.listenTo(contact,'change',this.render); //listen to change event on model }, render:function(){ console.log('data changed, re-render'); } }); new ContactView(); contact.set({ //this triggers change event firstName:'john',lastName:'Doe',phone:'111-111-1111' }); contact.unset('phone'); //this triggers change event