Is It Possible To Call Function Apply Without Changing The Context

Have you ever found yourself needing to call a function with the `apply` method in JavaScript but without changing the context of `this`? If you have, you might have realized that it's not as straightforward as it sounds. But fear not, as we are here to help you navigate this common coding challenge.

When working with JavaScript, the `apply` method allows you to call a function with a specified `this` value and an array of arguments. By default, when you use `apply`, it changes the context of `this` inside the function. However, there might be situations where you want to call a function using `apply` without altering the context of `this`.

One approach to achieving this is by passing the current `this` context explicitly as the first argument to the `apply` method, followed by the array of arguments you want to pass to the function. This way, you can retain the original context of `this` within the function.

function myFunction(arg1, arg2) {
    console.log(this); // Output: the original 'this' context
    console.log(arg1, arg2);
}

var context = { message: 'Hello, World!' };
var args = ['arg1', 'arg2'];

myFunction.apply(context, args);

In the example above, we have a function `myFunction` that takes two arguments. By explicitly passing the `context` object as the first argument to `apply` and an array of arguments as the second argument, we can call `myFunction` without changing the original context of `this`.

Alternatively, you can achieve the same result using ES6 arrow functions. Arrow functions do not bind their own `this`, but inherit it from the surrounding lexical context. This characteristic makes arrow functions a suitable choice when you need to retain the current `this` context.

const myFunction = (arg1, arg2) => {
    console.log(this); // Output: the original 'this' context
    console.log(arg1, arg2);
};

var context = { message: 'Hello, World!' };
var args = ['arg1', 'arg2'];

myFunction.apply(context, args);

In the updated example, we have rewritten `myFunction` as an arrow function. When you call `myFunction.apply` with the `context` object and the array of arguments, the arrow function preserves the original `this` context within the function.

So, whether you prefer the traditional `function` syntax with `apply` or the modern arrow function approach, you can call a function without changing the context of `this` by leveraging these techniques.

In summary, you can call a function using the `apply` method in JavaScript without altering the context of `this` by either explicitly passing the current context as the first argument or using arrow functions. These approaches provide flexibility and control when working with functions and contexts in your code.