Also known as ECMAScript 6, ECMAScript 2015 or Javascript 6, ES6 is a version of Javascript that was introduced in 2105.
ECMAScript (ES) is a scripting language specification standardised by ECMA International. It is used by applications to enable client-side scripting.
ECMA stands for:
European Computer Manufacturers Association
ES6 has some of the following features:
- Support for constants.
- Block scope.
- Arrow functions.
- Extended parameter handling.
- Template literals.
- Extended literals.
- Enhanced object properties.
- De-structuring assignment.
- Modules.
- Classes.
- Iterators.
- Generators.
- Collections.
- Built-in methods for classes
- Promises.
Consider this way of declaring a function in vanilla Javascript:
function myFunc(){
//do something
}
In ES6, we would use an Arrow Function like so:
myFunc = () =>{
//do something here
}
In Summary …
ES6 is all about simplicity and efficiency. But if you are just starting out in Javascript or thinking about it, it is a good idea to go through the ‘Vanilla’ way first so that you can understand the core concepts of the language.