You can access template variables with <%= %>.

<script type="text/template" id="search_template">
<label><%= search_label %></label>
<input type="text" id="search_input" />
<input type="button" id="search_button" value="Search" />
</script>

<div id="search_container"></div>

<script type="text/javascript">
SearchView = Backbone.View.extend({
initialize: FUNCTION(){
this.render();
},
render: function(){
//PASS variables in using Underscore.js Template
var variables = { search_label: "My Search" };
// Compile the template using underscore
var template = _.template( $("#search_template").html(), variables );
// Load the compiled HTML into the Backbone "EL"
this.$el.html( template );
},
EVENTS: {
"click input[type=button]": "doSearch"
},
doSearch: function( EVENT ){
// Button clicked, you can access the element that was clicked with event.currentTarget
alert( "Search for " + $("#search_input").val() );
}
});

var search_view = new SearchView({ el: $("#search_container") });
</script>

You can access template variables with <%= %>.

<script type="text/template" id="search_template">
<label><%= search_label %></label>
<input type="text" id="search_input" />
<input type="button" id="search_button" value="Search" />
</script>

<div id="search_container"></div>

<script type="text/javascript">
SearchView = Backbone.View.extend({
initialize: function(){
this.render();
},
render: function(){
//Pass variables in using Underscore.js Template
var variables = { search_label: "My Search" };
// Compile the template using underscore
var template = _.template( $("#search_template").html(), variables );
// Load the compiled HTML into the Backbone "el"
this.$el.html( template );
},
events: {
"click input[type=button]": "doSearch"
},
doSearch: function( event ){
// Button clicked, you can access the element that was clicked with event.currentTarget
alert( "Search for " + $("#search_input").val() );
}
});

var search_view = new SearchView({ el: $("#search_container") });
</script>