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Glite Dictionary
📞 Return call 🏢 Return to work 💻 Function for event
call-back

call-back

1 5.9
A piece of code given to another function to run later when an action finishes
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔːlˌbæk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : callback
  • Well, my call back function still interprets whatever pointer is passed in as a car **.

Examples

  • In programming, a call-back function is used to execute code after a task completes.

  • Then you can take that ID and you can play the sound and you can, if you want, get a call back for that sound ID when it's done playing.

  • The library provides a simple way to register a call-back that triggers when the download finishes.

  • To handle events in the application, you need to set up a call-back method for when users click the button.

Synonyms

callback
vscall-back
  • Specialized
2 4.6

A piece of code or web address a service calls later to send a result

is specifically a function passed as an argument to be invoked later
callable
vscall-back
  • Specialized
7.7

A piece of code you can run to do a task or give a result

is a specific function given to another function to run later

Surface Forms

call-back singular
call-backs plural

Morphology

call-back = call (semi-transparent) = back + call

The programming sense is a specialized, metaphorical extension of 'call back' (a function that will be called later), so the relation to 'call' + 'back' is present but requires technical knowledge. [Postprocessing: moved 'back' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

The programming use of call-back also comes from call 'to ask or run' and back 'later', so it helps to imagine giving a small piece of code to another part of a program and that part 'calls' it 'back' when the job is done. That is why a call-back in code is a function set to be run later when an event or process finishes.