Babel

JavaScript compiler that converts ECMAScript 2015+ code into backwards-compatible JavaScript for current and older browsers. Enables developers to use modern syntax, JSX, and type annotations while producing output that runs in target environments.

Trusted by enterprises such as Airbnb, Coinbase, and American Express. Widely adopted across the JavaScript ecosystem: framework toolchains like Create React App and Next.js rely on it, and it ships as the default compiler in many build pipelines. Stands out for its pluggable architecture, spec compliance, and extensive preset ecosystem.

Key features:

• Syntax transformation for ES2015+ and TC39 proposals
• JSX compilation for React and other frameworks
• Type annotation stripping for Flow and TypeScript
• Pluggable pipeline with presets and custom plugins
• Source map support for debugging compiled code
• Compact output with minimal runtime dependencies

Teams use Babel to compile React and JSX for production, run modern JavaScript on older browsers, strip TypeScript or Flow types without full type-checking overhead, and perform codemods or custom AST transformations. Integrates with bundlers like webpack, Rollup, and Vite through standard plugin interfaces.