Document event handler that catches links and navigates to a Backbone route if one exists.

catch_route.js

// Route based on the URL
$(document).on('click', 'a', function(event) {
    // Path of the target link
    var path = this.pathname;

    // Handle IE quirk
    if (path.charAt(0) !== '/') path = '/' + path;

    // Trim off the root on the path if present
    var root = Backbone.history.root || '/';

    if (path.slice(0, root.length) === root) {
        path = path.slice(root.length);
    }

    // If this is a valid route then go ahead and navigate to it,
    // otherwise let the event process normally to load the new
    // location.
    if (Backbone.history.navigate(path, {trigger: true})) {
        event.preventDefault();
    }
});