title: Why is `vapply` safer than `sapply`?
body: <p>The documentation says</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><code>vapply</code> is similar to <code>sapply</code>, but has a pre-specified type of return value, so it can be safer [...] to use.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Could you please elaborate as to why it is generally safer, maybe providing examples?</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>P.S.: I know the answer and I already tend to avoid <code>sapply</code>. I just wish there was a nice answer here on SO so I can point my coworkers to it. Please, no "read the manual" answer.</p>