Invoke vs. Call — What's the Difference?

Invoke often conveys a sense of formality or solemnity, suggesting an appeal to a higher authority or power, such as in legal or spiritual contexts. For example, one might invoke a law or a deity, implying a certain reverence or respect in the act. On the other hand, Call is more commonly used in everyday language and implies a direct request or summons, often without the formal or solemn connotations associated with invoke. For instance, calling a friend or calling someone's name in a crowd is straightforward and lacks the formal appeal of invocation.

While invoking often carries an implication of assistance or support from the entity being invoked, such as invoking a saint for protection, calling does not necessarily imply seeking help or support but can simply involve initiating communication or demanding attention.

In programming, the distinction becomes more nuanced; to invoke a function or method might suggest a certain level of abstraction or formality, as in invoking a routine, whereas calling a function is a direct and specific instruction within the code.

Invoke can carry connotations of bringing something into effect or operation, such as invoking a rule or principle, implying a degree of ceremony or formality in its application. In contrast, calling someone or something into a particular role or action is more about straightforward selection or identification without the ceremonial undertones.