Quick Underscore extension to get / precompile templates

getTemplate.js

/**
 * _.getTemplate( selector )      returns a precompiled ( and cached ) template function based on selector html; assumes jQuery and Underscore
 * @param  { Selector } selector  path to element ( most commonly a script tag with type= eg "x-underscore-template" ) containing template src
 * @return {[type]}               precompiled template function; pass in data object, returns rendered template text for .html() or .innerHTML =
 */

( function( global, _, undefined ) {
  var templates = {};

  _.getTemplate = function( selector ) {
    var template = templates[ selector ] || ( function() {
      var compiled = _.template( $( selector ).html() );
      templates[ selector ] = compiled;

      return compiled;
    }() );

    return template;
  };

}( this, _ ) );