Babel

Question 1

What is Babel?

Answer 1

A JavaScript compiler

A toolchain that converts any form of JavaScript into a backwards compatible JavaScript.

Question 2

What are Babel’s key features?

Answer 2

• Transforms syntax
• Polyfill features that are missing in your target environment
• Source code transformations

Question 3

What is a Plug-in?

Answer 3

A software component that adds a specific feature to an existing program. This allows customization.

Question 4

What is a Webpack loader?

Answer 4

Allows the pre-process of files before Webpack bundles imported files

It can also transform source code of a module

Question 5

How can you make Babel and Webpack work together?

Answer 5

Saving babel as a devDependency and then adding babel-loader in the webpack.config module under the loader section.

Question 6

What is the order in which babel is used to produce backward compatible code?

Answer 6

JavaScript is written
JavaScript imports are entered into Webpack bundler
Webpack bundler uses Babel loader to integrate Babel
Babel uses plug-ins to read code for any block scoping, arrow functions, and classes.
Babel sends the read code back to the Webpack bundler
Artifact JavaScript is produced