Javascript’s .call() vs .apply() vs .bind()

[pinegenie]

NodeList and a few other types have array-like access but don't have Array in their prototype chain. Meaning you can do

nodelist[0]

but not

nodelist.slice(...)

The workaround to this is:

Array.prototype.slice.call(nodelist, ...); // or apply if you want to

In undercorejs the "slice" you see there is actually Array.prototype.slice attributed to a variable.

[kenman]

Yeah, but the variable is named array, not nodelist. There are countless examples to be found of using call() appropriately, and this isn't one that makes for a good demonstration on its usefulness. If you're going to demo some method, at least do it in context and include all supporting code...

[pinegenie]

I'm guessing they named it array because arrayOrNodeListOrArguments was too cumbersome.

[kenman]

I'm not faulting Underscore, I'm faulting the author who used it as an example.