Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript. Like many other compilers it runs in 3 stages: parsing, transforming, and printing.
Babel is a tool that helps you write code in the latest version of JavaScript. When your supported environments don’t support certain features natively, Babel will help you compile those features down to a supported version.
Babel is a toolchain that is mainly used to convert ECMAScript 2015+ code into a backwards compatible version of JavaScript in current and older browsers or environments.
Babel tries to stay true to the ECMAScript standard, as much as reasonably possible. It aims to use the least amount of code possible with no dependence on a bulky runtime.
The compiler can:
- Transform syntax.
- Polyfill features that are missing in your target environment (through @babel/polyfill).
- Source code transformations (codemods).
- Support for the latest version of JavaScript through syntax transformers.
- Convert JSX syntax.
- Strip out annotations.
- Built out of plugins. Compose your own transformation pipeline using existing plugins or write your own.
Website: babeljs.io
Support: Blog, GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Daniel Tschinder, Brian Ng, Logan Smyth, Nicolò Ribaudo, Sven Sauleau, Henry Zhu, and many contributors
License: MIT License
Babel is written in JavaScript. Learn JavaScript with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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