What is the difference between using Function.prototype.apply()
and Function.prototype.call()
to invoke a function?
var func = function() {
alert('hello!');
};
func.apply();
vs func.call();
Are there performance differences between the two aforementioned methods? When is it best to use call
over apply
and vice versa?
2
The difference is that apply
lets you invoke the function with arguments
as an array; call
requires the parameters be listed explicitly. A useful mnemonic is “A for array and C for comma.”
See MDN’s documentation on apply and call.
Pseudo syntax:
theFunction.apply(valueForThis, arrayOfArgs)
theFunction.call(valueForThis, arg1, arg2, ...)
There is also, as of ES6, the possibility to spread
the array for use with the call
function, you can see the compatibilities here.
Sample code:
function theFunction(name, profession) {
console.log("My name is " + name + " and I am a " + profession +".");
}
theFunction("John", "fireman");
theFunction.apply(undefined, ["Susan", "school teacher"]);
theFunction.call(undefined, "Claude", "mathematician");
theFunction.call(undefined, ...["Matthew", "physicist"]); // used with the spread operator