Normally functions are called in a smart contract at a high level within a Solidity file, using the functions name and arguments. Solidity also supports the low level .call function which allows the direct calling of an encoded function. This is a powerful feature that allows us to interact with dynamically loaded contracts and to interface with contracts whose source is unavailable. The function signature and arguments are converted into a byte array using the ABI, and are passed as function calldata to the contract address, where it is then decoded and executed. Encoded function calls enable upgradeable smart contracts despite the immutable nature of deployed code on a blockchain. We can create a proxy contract who extracts call data and sends them to the implementation contract. Then at a later time, a new upgraded implementation contract can be deployed and the forwarding address updated in the proxy contract. The proxy contract remains unchanged, and the upgrade process appears seamless to external users. Overall encoded function calls allow developers to separate concerns of logic and data, and create resilient and flexible decentralized applications.
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