What's the difference between `.call` and `.apply` in JavaScript?

TL;DR

.call and .apply are both used to invoke functions with a specific this context and arguments. The primary difference lies in how they accept arguments:

• .call(thisArg, arg1, arg2, ...): Takes arguments individually.
• .apply(thisArg, [argsArray]): Takes arguments as an array.

Assuming we have a function add, the function can be invoked using .call and .apply in the following manner:

function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

console.log(add.call(null, 1, 2)); // 3
console.log(add.apply(null, [1, 2])); // 3

Call vs Apply

Both .call and .apply are used to invoke functions and the first parameter will be used as the value of this within the function. However, .call takes in comma-separated arguments as the next arguments while .apply takes in an array of arguments as the next argument.

An easy way to remember this is C for call and comma-separated and A for apply and an array of arguments.

function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

console.log(add.call(null, 1, 2)); // 3
console.log(add.apply(null, [1, 2])); // 3

With ES6 syntax, we can invoke call using an array along with the spread operator for the arguments.

function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

console.log(add.call(null, ...[1, 2])); // 3

Use cases

Context management

.call and .apply can set the this context explicitly when invoking methods on different objects.

const person = {
  name: 'John',
  greet() {
    console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
  },
};

const anotherPerson = { name: 'Alice' };

person.greet.call(anotherPerson); // Hello, my name is Alice
person.greet.apply(anotherPerson); // Hello, my name is Alice

Function borrowing

Both .call and .apply allow borrowing methods from one object and using them in the context of another. This is useful when passing functions as arguments (callbacks) and the original this context is lost. .call and .apply allow the function to be invoked with the intended this value.

function greet() {
  console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
}

const person1 = { name: 'John' };
const person2 = { name: 'Alice' };

greet.call(person1); // Hello, my name is John
greet.call(person2); // Hello, my name is Alice

Alternative syntax to call methods on objects

.apply can be used with object methods by passing the object as the first argument followed by the usual parameters.

const arr1 = [1, 2, 3];
const arr2 = [4, 5, 6];

Array.prototype.push.apply(arr1, arr2); // Same as arr1.push(4, 5, 6)

console.log(arr1); // [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Deconstructing the above:

1. The first object, arr1 will be used as the this value.
2. .push() is called on arr1 using arr2 as arguments as an array because it's using .apply().
3. Array.prototype.push.apply(arr1, arr2) is equivalent to arr1.push(...arr2).

It may not be obvious, but Array.prototype.push.apply(arr1, arr2) causes modifications to arr1. It's clearer to call methods using the OOP-centric way instead where possible.

Follow-Up Questions

• How do .call and .apply differ from Function.prototype.bind?

Practice

Practice implementing your own Function.prototype.call method and Function.prototype.apply method on GreatFrontEnd.

Further Reading

• Function.prototype.call | MDN
• Function.prototype.apply | MDN