Invoker: meaning, definitions and examples
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invoker
[ ɪnˈvoʊkər ]
programming term
An invoker is a component that calls or triggers a function or method in a programming context. It is often used in relation to design patterns, such as the Command pattern, where the invoker object holds a reference to the command and calls its execute method.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The invoker is responsible for triggering commands.
- In the command pattern, the invoker knows how to execute commands.
- The event handler acts as an invoker for UI actions.
Etymology
The term 'invoker' is derived from the verb 'invoke', which comes from the Latin 'invocare', meaning 'to call upon'. The Latin term is a combination of 'in-' meaning 'upon' and 'vocare' meaning 'to call'. The usage of 'invoke' in English can be traced back to the early 15th century, with 'invoker' appearing later in the context of computing. As programming languages evolved, especially in the late 20th century, the term gained popularity among software developers to refer specifically to the entities responsible for initiating or calling processes or functions within code.