Updated March 17, 2023
Overview of ES6
ES6 is more popularly known as ECMA script, which is a scripting language based on specification and standardization by ECMA international company in ECMA-262 and ISO/IEC 16232. The language was created to standardize Javascript language in order to foster multiple independent implementations. Javascript by far has remained as one of the most well-known implementations of ECMA script and computing since the first standard was published. The other well-known implementations which are published include JScript and ActionScript. ECMA Script is most commonly used as a means to do client-side scripting, specifically in the world wide web. It is increasingly used for writing server-based applications and broader services by making use of node.js.
ES6 refers to the ECMA script programming language and its version 6, which is also a standardized name for JavaScript and is the next version after 5, which was released back in 2011. This language was used to create the standards for Javascripting language such that it can foster multiple independent implementations and was released in June 2015.
Understanding ES6
ES6 is used to enable client-side languages and is becoming one of the most popular scripting languages which are standardized by ECMA international. Languages such as JScript, JavaScript, and ActionScript are governed by this language and its specifications. This can be well understood by its wide array of features such as Support for constants, Block scope, Template literals, extended parameter handling, extended literals, de-structuring assignment, a newly built-in method for various classes, etc. Default parameters in ES6 can well understand this. Here we can directly put in the default values in the signature of the functions. The other parameters include template literals in ES6, which is also known as the interpolation in other languages, which is often identified as the way to output the variables inside the string. The use of a multi-line string makes it a lot more appealable as the use of backticks also helps in bettering this language. The restructuring of the assignment in ES6 is backed by the concept of assignments and keywords such as mouse and house are variables house and mouse. The things which can be done with object literals are simply amazing as the movement and transition from JSON to ES6 is relative to the classes being used in ES6.
Features of ES6
Some of the very prominent features include classes. Arrow functions, string interpolation, enhanced object literals, default, destructuring, spread+object literals, rest, spread, const, let, for..of, Unicode, set, modules and module loaders, weakest., set, WeakMap, Map, Symbols, Proxies, New library, Inheritable built-ins, Binary and octal, reflect, promises, Tail call optimization, block-scoped constructs let and const, etc.
How does ES6 make Working so Easy?
The ES6 provides a rich set of features such as Variables, operators, Decision making and control block statements, functions, loops, events, Page redirection facilities, and features, cookies, Dialog boxes, Page printing, void keyword, number, objects, Boolean, new string methods, math, date, array, RegExp, HTML DOM, Classes, what Can you do With ES6.
Javascript is a mix of some really new and good ideas and some really bad ones at the core of it. The next generation of ES6 can also be rightly said that the term JavaScript is the term used to denote ECMA Script language, whereas modern web browsers use ECMA Script flawlessly. Because of its speed, accuracy, backward compatibility, object-oriented nature, arrow functions, modules creation, template literal strings, usage of YARN and its capabilities, its capability to be able to solve all the problems which are solved with CoffeeScript but in a nicer and a better way, const and let can solve all the traditional scope related problems; the spread operator feature promises feature which is helpful in making the async nature of Javascript programming language more predictable and easier to handle. They provide a mature and consistent way to be able to handle future events instead of the arbitrary specific patterns, which are library-based. All these features help in doing everything that a Javascript programming language is capable of doing.
Working With ES6
Working with ES6 has always been exciting as it’s a newer version of javascript programming language, which in itself is a rich feature set-backed language. With every new feature introduced in the ES6, there are many additional features that are added, and they all together make working with ES6 easy and exciting.
Advantages and Disadvantages of ES6
Let us find out the prominent advantages and disadvantages
Advantage
It brings many engrossing features that were absent in the earlier versions, such as ES5. For example, let and const kind features as they are blocked scoped features and declarations and are therefore not deviated by the common errors which occur as is. Errors such as misunderstanding, etc.
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage is the confusion for the best coding practice, as when you are the developer, it becomes part of a fairly complex javascript project as you get some consistent coding guidelines that were present in the earlier versions. This version can lead to a disaster due to an unmaintainable codebase because of a lack of coding guidelines.
Why should we Use ES6?
ES6 should be used at all those places where you plan to use javascript and where making use of the ECMA Script is acceptable. It can also be used at all those places where the features explained above can be used and utilized efficiently.
Why do we Need ES6?
We need ES6 as it is the next generation of Javascript programming language and can be efficiently used by browsers. The earlier version, i.e. version 5, is of more importance for web browsers. The ES6 doesn’t have complete browser compatibility yet.
How will this Technology Help in Career Growth?
This technology is the next-gen technology that is used for Javascript programming language and is used to provide a much efficient and beneficial usage. The earlier versions are more efficient, but this one contains a lot more features as per the ECMA script paradigm. Once you learn this technique, you will have a good knowledge and understanding of the front end web technology and frameworks which are prevalent in today’s market.
Conclusion
The wide array of features of ES6 make this a very beneficial and efficient scripting language which is useful for everything related to JavaScript technology. Next-generation versions probably have much more to offer than what is already offered in our version 6.
Recommended Article
This has been a guide to What is ES6?. Here we have discussed the features along with the Advantages and Disadvantages of ES6. You may also look at the following articles to learn more-