Keeping direct reference to the element you're inserting into the DOM at render time with Backbone.js

gistfile1.js

// pass in the $parentEl in the options so you can reference it.

render: function () {
  this.$el = $(this.template({
    ...
  })).appendTo(this.$parentEl);
  
  // Call delegateEvents() afterwards if you have events in your view you want bound to the new this.$el
  this.delegateEvents();
}