Is there underscorejs object constructor that takes " _('string') " format?

Question

I am working on a html template and dissecting it (Suitecommerce Reference Impl to be more specific - an ERP solution which comes with webfront features).

Here's a snippet from the template.

    <li>
        <a href="#" data-touchpoint="customercenter" data-hashtag="#ordershistory">
                        <%= _('Order History').translate() %>
        </a>
    </li>

The % tag between normal html tags are written in backbonejs and underscorejs.

Since underscorejs functions take _.function() form, I don't get the purpse of _('string').

Any backbonejs/underscorejs developers out there?

Answer 1

When you call _(obj) Underscore wraps the obj argument. Then any Underscore methods can be called on the wrapped object without having to modify the prototype of obj.

It appears that one of the libraries that you are using has added the translate() method to the Underscore prototype and the _(string).translate() is the way to call that method on your string.

Here is another example of extending Underscore in a similar manner:

_.mixin({
  logToConsole: function(str) {
    console.log(str)
  }
})

_('text to log').logToConsole()

References:

Underscore OOP (wrapping)

Underscore mixin method