What Does Invoke Mean in Programming?

In programming, "invoke" means to execute or trigger a function, method, or command. It is often used interchangeably with "call," but there are subtle differences between the two.

Difference Between "Call" and "Invoke"

• Direct vs. Indirect Execution – "Call" refers to directly executing a function, while "invoke" can include dynamic or event-driven execution.
• Usage in Reflection – In languages like Java, Method.invoke() dynamically invokes a method at runtime.
• Event Handling – In frameworks like React, event handlers are often invoked by the system rather than explicitly called.

While the two terms are related, "invoke" typically implies a more indirect or system-driven execution rather than a simple function call.