The command apply applies the function func to the arguments arg1arg2... and returns the result.
The function func is a two element list {argsbody} or a three element list {argsbodynamespace} (as if
the list command had been used). The first element args specifies the formal arguments to func. The
specification of the formal arguments args is shared with the proc command, and is described in detail in
the corresponding manual page.
The contents of body are executed by the Tcl interpreter after the local variables corresponding to the
formal arguments are given the values of the actual parameters arg1arg2.... When body is being
executed, variable names normally refer to local variables, which are created automatically when
referenced and deleted when apply returns. One local variable is automatically created for each of the
function's arguments. Global variables can only be accessed by invoking the global command or the upvar
command. Namespace variables can only be accessed by invoking the variable command or the upvar command.
The invocation of apply adds a call frame to Tcl's evaluation stack (the stack of frames accessed via
uplevel). The execution of body proceeds in this call frame, in the namespace given by namespace or in
the global namespace if none was specified. If given, namespace is interpreted relative to the global
namespace even if its name does not start with “::”.
The semantics of apply can also be described by approximately this:
proc apply {fun args} {
set len [llength $fun]
if {($len < 2) || ($len > 3)} {
error "can't interpret \"$fun\" as anonymous function"
}
lassign $fun argList body ns
set name ::$ns::[getGloballyUniqueName]
set body0 {
rename [lindex [info level 0] 0] {}
}
proc $name $argList ${body0}$body
set code [catch {uplevel 1 $name $args} res opt]
return -options $opt $res
}