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Call Vs Apply in JavaScript

Last Updated : 3 Nov, 2025

The call() and apply() methods in JavaScript are used to invoke functions with a specified this value.

  • call(): accepts arguments individually when invoking a function.
  • apply(): accepts arguments as an array when invoking a function.

call() Method

It calls the method, taking the owner object as an argument. The keyword this refers to the 'owner' of the function or the object it belongs to. We can call a method that can be used on different objects. 

html 
<body style="text-align:center;">
    <h1 style="color:green;">
        GeeksForGeeks
    </h1>
    <h3>call() method</h3>

    <button onClick="fun()">
        click
    </button>

    <p id="GFG"></p>


    <!-- Script to use call() method to call
            function -->
    <script>
        function fun() {
        let p = {
            fullName: function(addr1, addr2) {
            return this.fName + " " + this.lName
                    + ", " + addr1 + ", " + addr2;
            }
        }
            
        let p1 = {
            fName:"GFGfName",
            lName: "GFGlName",
        }
            
        let x = p.fullName.call(p1, "India", "USA");
        document.getElementById("GFG").innerHTML = x;
        }
    </script>
</body>

Syntax:

object.objectMethod.call( objectInstance, arguments )

JavaScript apply() Method

The apply() method is used to write methods, which can be used on different objects. It is different from the function call() because it takes arguments as an array. 

HTML 
<body style="text-align:center;">

    <h1 style="color:green;">
        GeeksForGeeks
    </h1>
    <h3>JavaScript apply() method</h3>

    <button onClick="fun()">
        click
    </button>

    <p id="GFG"></p>


    <script>
        function fun() {
            let p = {
            fullName: function(addr1, addr2) {
                return this.fName + " " + this.lName
                        + ", " + addr1 + ", " + addr2;
            }
        }
        let p1 = {
            fName:"GFGfName",
            lName: "GFGlName",
        }
            let x = p.fullName.apply(p1, ["India", "USA"]);
            document.getElementById("GFG").innerHTML = x;
        }
    </script>
</body>

Syntax:

object.objectMethod.apply(objectInstance, arrayOfArguments)

Let us understand differences in a tabular form

JavaScript call() Method

JavaScript apply() Method

It is used to write such a method that can be used on different objects.It is used to write methods, which can be used on different objects
It is a Predefined Method in JavaScript.Its return value is the result of the calling function along provided this value and arguments.
It is used for an object to use a method that belongs to a different object.We can use a list with this function instead of the array
This method can also accept parameters.This method takes the parameter as an array
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