12 Ways to Improve JavaScript Programming Using ES6

By Manideep

JavaScript has gone through different phases of development since its inception. Created by Brendan Eich, JavaScript was initially code named as Mocha and later it was renamed to LiveScript and now its termed as JavaScript. European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) is responsible for specifying standards for JavaScript. ECMA has released ES6, which is a new update for JavaScript. ES6 is the first major update released by ECMA for JavaScript since 2009.

Many new features have been encapsulated for JavaScript language in this new update which is presently incorporated into JavaScript engines around the globe. We can expect a whole new range of features in ES6 that will move JavaScript to a new level of adoption and performance.

Major benefits of the new ES6 update

If we delve into the features of this new ES6 update, the new edition comes with a wide range of features, in the following paragraphs will discuss each paragraph in detail.

  1. Modules
    Modules are one of the new inclusions in the newly rolled out update by ECMA. The Modules allow the user to reuse some portions in their applications in other areas. The feature also allows the user to import and export keywords and also load the dependencies and manage them.
  2. Promises
    This feature helps you in handling errors arising from asynchronous operations. Though you can handle such errors using a callback method, but promises are much easier as they are in the readable format.
  3. Arrows
    Arrows uses a syntax =>. Though this not such a notable addition in ES^, but still it is useful for the users as it is a substitute for the keyword “this”.
  4. Const
    The “Const” feature ensures that the code is accurate. This feature also helps in reducing the bugs and if anyone tries to change the code that should not be modified then this feature throws of an error.
  5. Property Names
    Though this feature was present in the ES5, but it did not allow the user to use a variable right in an object literal. In ES6, the user can use this feature with a specific syntax.
  6. Template Literals
    Template literals feature allows the user to change variables into strings. Template strings are lets you use a tag for auto-escaping SQL strings.
  7. Sugar Syntax
    The new ES6 has simplified the syntax, making it more readable and easily understandable. ES6 comes with a new syntax class called “syntactic sugar” which supports syntax simplification. Though this new class does not change the way system works but it provides a cleaner syntax.
  8. Block Level Scoping
    In ES6, the users can use “Let” keyword scope variables directly for blocks.
  9. Rest Parameters
    One major feature of the new ES6 update is that the user does not have to make use of arguments to access arguments for functions, they can do that by accessing arrays that represent the remaining parameters.
  10. Default Parameters
    If you’ve ever wanted a function parameter that could set a default value, you are in luck, because ES6 has this functionality.
  11. Classes
    Classes are one of the notable features of ES6 and useful for the developers as it adds syntactic sugar on JavaScript’s prototypical inheritance. This feature has garnered good importance as it makes JavaScript more appealing to developers. Though experienced JavaScript users fell that classes feature lock you in and cover up the inheritance.

  12. Set
    The “Set” feature allows You can store a data values list inside a collection object.

Constraints of ES6 Update

Though this new update has ringed in many advanced features, but still has few backlogs:

  • Difficult to make changes:
  • ES6 has does not allow outsiders to make or suggest any changes to the JavaScript. The process of implementing changes is very complicated.
  • Does not support 64-bit numeric type:
  • The newly rolled update ES6 does not support 64-bit numeric type. It only offers support to the doubles due to its support for floating-point operations.

Conclusion

The ES6 has ringed in good features and opportunities to the developers. According to news inputs the next update is at the elementary stage, and it expected that the next rollout would include additional features such as operator overloading, promises /concurrency, pattern matching, and much more. Apart from these, there are many other features available in JavaScript which were incorporated in the previous versions. Professionals who wish to explore all these features can enroll themselves with organizations who offer Javascript training sessions or workshops.

This article was contributed

More by Author

Get the Free Newsletter!

Subscribe to Developer Insider for top news, trends & analysis

Must Read