ECMAScript is a JavaScript standard meant to ensure the interoperability of web pages across different web browsers. ECMAScript is commonly used for client-side scripting on the world wide web and it is increasingly being used for writing server applications and services using Node.js.
ES5 is an abbreviation of ECMAScript 5 and also known as ECMAScript 2009. The sixth edition of the ECMAScript standard is ES6 or ECMAScript 6. It is also known as ECMAScript 2015. ES6 is a major enhancement in the JavaScript language that allows us to write programs for complex applications.
In ES5, there is one way of defining variables using var keyword. But ES6 has introduced two ways of defining variables using keywords let and const. However, let and const use block scope while var uses function scope. Also, the variables that are defined using const are immutable.
What You Need To Know About ES5
- The fifth edition of the same is known as ES5.
- It was introduced in 2009.
- It supports primitive data types that are string, number, Boolean, null and undefined.
- There is only one way to define variables by using the var keyword.
- It has a lower performance as compared to ES6.
- Object manipulation is time- consuming in ES5.
- In ES5, both function and return keywords are used to define a function.
- In ES5, there is a use of for loop to iterate over elements.
- It provides a larger range of community supports than that of ES6.
What You Need To Know About ES6
- ECMA script is a trademarked scripting language specification defined by ECMA International. The sixth edition of the same is referred to as ES6.
- It was introduced in 2015.
- In ES6, there are some editions to JavaScript data types. It introduced a new primitive data type ‘’symbol’ for supporting unique values.
- There are two new ways to define variables that is let and const.
- It has a higher performance than ES5.
- Object manipulation is less time-consuming in ES6.
- An arrow function is a new feature introduced in ES6 by which we don’t require the function keyword to define the function.
- ES6 introduced the concept of for..of loop to perform an iteration over the values of the iterable objects.
- It provides a less range of community support than that of ES5.
Difference Between ES5 And ES6 In Tabular Form
| BASIS OF COMPARISON | ES5 | ES6 |
| Description | ECMA script is a trademarked scripting language specification defined by ECMA International. The fifth edition of the same is known as ES5. | ECMA script is a trademarked scripting language specification defined by ECMA International. The sixth edition of the same is referred to as ES6. |
| Launch | It was introduced in 2009. | It was introduced in 2015. |
| Data Types | It supports primitive data types that are string, number, Boolean, null and undefined. | In ES6, there are some editions to JavaScript data types. It introduced a new primitive data type ‘’symbol’ for supporting unique values. |
| Defining Variables | There is only one way to define variables by using the var keyword. | There are two new ways to define variables that is let and const. |
| Performance | It has a lower performance as compared to ES6. | It has a higher performance than ES5. |
| Object Manipulation | Object manipulation is time- consuming in ES5. | Object manipulation is less time-consuming in ES6. |
| Arrow Functions | In ES5, both function and return keywords are used to define a function. | An arrow function is a new feature introduced in ES6 by which we don’t require the function keyword to define the function. |
| Iteration over Elements | In ES5, there is a use of for loop to iterate over elements. | ES6 introduced the concept of for..of loop to perform an iteration over the values of the iterable objects. |
| Community Support | It provides a larger range of community supports than that of ES6. | It provides a less range of community support than that of ES5. |