What is ES6? Features and Benefits of ES6 over JavaScript

With many new features and significant improvements, ES6 has changed the way developers write JavaScript code, bringing higher efficiency and the ability to create complex web applications more easily. Let's find out with  TipsMake  what ES6 is and the outstanding features of ES6.

What is ES6?

Javascript ES6, also known as ECMAScript 6, is the latest version of the ECMAScript standard, approved in 2015. This is an important upgrade compared to the previous version (ES5), aiming to improve and expand the features of the Javascript programming language, helping programmers work more efficiently.

What is ES6?

ES6 is not a sudden improvement, but the result of a long development process. After ES5 was released in 2009, the JavaScript development community began discussing and proposing new features for the next version. This process lasted for many years, with the participation of leading experts in the field and major technology companies.

During development, many proposals were made, discussed, and refined. Features were evaluated based on their usefulness, backward compatibility, and performance impact. The result is a comprehensive specification that addresses many issues that existed in previous versions of JavaScript and opens up new possibilities for the language.

Why use ES6?

Using ES6 is essential in modern software development, as it is a collection of advanced Javascript techniques that help ensure consistency and efficiency in the source code. When programmers in a team work with different styles, adopting ES6 helps create a common standard, reduces conflicts, and improves the maintainability of the project. 

With strong support from frameworks, ES6 not only makes the source code cleaner but also optimizes the development process, so more and more programmers choose to use ES6.

Outstanding features of ES6

Arrow Function

Arrow Function is a shorthand syntax for defining functions, making code cleaner and avoiding the need to manually declare this.

For example:

1. const add = (a, b) => a + b;
2. console.log(add(2, 3)); // Output: 5

Block Scoped

ES6 introduces two keywords (let and const) for declaring variables, allowing to limit the scope of the variable to the current block. This helps avoid variable name collisions and improves security.

For example:

Destructuring Assignments

This feature allows assigning values ​​to variables from an array or object easily.

For example:

From an array

From an object

4. Default Parameters

ES6 allows us to set default values ​​for function parameters, making our code more flexible.

For example:

5. Template Literal (Template String)

Template Literal allows for easy and intuitive creation of dynamic strings by using backticks ( ) instead of single or double quotes.

For example:

6. Promises

Promises are a way to handle asynchronous operations efficiently. They help programmers keep track of the state of asynchronous operations and handle results when they complete.

For example:

7. Classes

ES6 supports object-oriented programming through the use of classes. Classes allow the creation of objects with properties and methods, helping to better organize code.

For example:

8. Spread and Rest Operators

The Spread operator (.) allows expanding arrays or objects into separate arguments, while the Rest operator (.) allows grouping arguments into an array.

For example:

Benefits of using ES6 over JavaScript

Using ES6 brings many benefits to web developers, both in terms of performance, security, and application scalability.

1. Cleaner and more readable code

ES6 provides a new syntax that makes code more concise and easier to understand. For example, using arrow functions instead of traditional functions reduces the number of characters you need to write and makes your code more intuitive. Additionally, template literals make it easy to embed expressions and create multiline strings, making your code more readable.

Benefits of using ES6 over JavaScript

2. Advanced Object Oriented Programming

ES6 introduces class syntax, making it easier to define and use classes. This supports object-oriented programming, allowing the creation of objects with explicit properties and methods. Features like inheritance and super are also supported, making it easier to build complex code structures.

3. Better management of asynchrony

ES6 provides Promises to manage asynchronous tasks, making it easier for programmers to handle the results of asynchronous tasks without having to use callback hell. This makes the code easier to maintain and reduces errors.

4. Ability to reuse code segments

ES6 allows the use of modules, which help break down source code into independent, reusable parts. Modules allow functions, variables, or classes to be exported and imported from different files, helping to better organize source code and reduce dependencies between parts of an application.

5. High security and error prevention

ES6 provides features like let and const to declare variables with block scope, which helps prevent errors related to global variables. In addition, using modules also helps limit the visibility of variables and functions, thereby enhancing the security of the source code.

Some limitations still exist

Although ES6 (ECMAScript 6) brings many improvements and new features to JavaScript, there are still some limitations that programmers need to be aware of:

Browser compatibility: Not all browsers fully support ES6; some older versions may make cross-platform app development difficult.

Learning and getting used to the new syntax: Moving from ES5 to ES6 can be difficult for programmers unfamiliar with new features like classes, arrow functions, and destructuring, leading to suboptimal code.

Larger file sizes: Using new features, especially modules, can increase JavaScript file sizes, affecting page load speed and application performance, especially on slow-connected devices.

Problems with asynchrony: Despite improvements through Promises, managing asynchrony can still be complex, making it difficult to track and handle errors.

Conclude

ES6 is a major update to JavaScript, bringing many new features and improvements that make web development more efficient, easier, and more powerful. Using ES6 is essential for web developers who want to incorporate the latest technologies into their projects.

Kareem Winters

Update 12 February 2025