When console.log passed as a parameter it works, but when array.push is passed a parameter it doesn't work why?

Question

I may be asking a silly question.but I am a beginner.

I saw this example in eloquent JavaScript in the chapter about higher order function.

There is a repeat function that takes 2 arguments. 1. number of time we want the repetition 2. action that we want to repeat

When console.log is passed as 2^nd argument code works just fine. it produces perfect output.

but when array.push is passed as 2^nd argument code throws an error, we are required to pass a function as 2^nd argument to make array.push work.

Please help understanding this concept.

//code here works...
function repeat(n, action) {
  for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    action(i);
  }
}

repeat(3, console.log);

//so why code below does not work...?
function repeat(n, action) {
    for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
      action(i);
    }
  }

let labels = [];
repeat(5, labels.push);

console.log(labels);

/*
In my understanding labels.push is also a function just like console.log, so it should push i 5 times(i.e 0-4) into labels array.
Please help me where am I wrong.
*/

//Why we require to pass a function as described below.
function repeat(n, action) {
    for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
      action(i);
    }
  }

let labels = [];
repeat(5, i => labels.push(i));
console.log(labels);

Answer 1

it is because labels.push requires a context.

if you do repeat(5, labels.push.bind(labels)), you will see that it works.

i leave it to you read up on what fn.call(), fn.bind() and fn.apply() do.