funcall (Function)

Syntax:

Arguments and Values:

function—a function designator.

args—arguments to the function.

results—the values returned by the function.

Description:

funcall applies function to args. If function is a symbol, it is coerced to a function as if by finding its functional value in the global environment.

Examples:

 (funcall #'+ 1 2 3) → 6
 (funcall 'car '(1 2 3)) → 1
 (funcall 'position 1 '(1 2 3 2 1) :start 1) → 4
 (cons 1 2) → (1 . 2)
 (flet ((cons (x y) `(kons ,x ,y)))
   (let ((cons (symbol-function '+)))
     (funcall #'cons
              (funcall 'cons 1 2)
              (funcall cons 1 2))))
→ (KONS (1 . 2) 3)

Exceptional Situations:

An error of type undefined-function should be signaled if function is a symbol that does not have a global definition as a function or that has a global definition as a macro or a special operator.

See Also:

apply, function (Special Operator), Section 3.1 (Evaluation)

Notes:

 (funcall function arg1 arg2 ...)
 ≡ (apply function arg1 arg2 ... nil)
 ≡ (apply function (list arg1 arg2 ...))

The difference between funcall and an ordinary function call is that in the former case the function is obtained by ordinary evaluation of a form, and in the latter case it is obtained by the special interpretation of the function position that normally occurs.