@babel/core
Advanced tools
@babel/core is the core library of the Babel JavaScript compiler. It is primarily used for transforming ES6+ code into backwards compatible JavaScript that can be run by older JavaScript engines. Babel is widely used for its ability to transpile new JavaScript syntax, JSX, TypeScript, and for its plugin system that allows developers to use experimental features and customize the build process.
Syntax Transformation
Transforms modern JavaScript syntax into a backwards compatible version. For example, it can convert ES6 arrow functions into regular ES5 functions.
require('@babel/core').transform('code', { presets: ['@babel/preset-env'] });Plugin/Preset Application
Applies Babel plugins or presets to the code to enable specific transformations or sets of transformations.
require('@babel/core').transform('code', { plugins: ['@babel/plugin-transform-arrow-functions'] });Source Map Generation
Generates source maps which help in debugging the original source code after it has been transformed by Babel.
require('@babel/core').transform('code', { sourceMaps: true });Code Generation
Generates code from an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST). This is useful when you want to transform the AST directly or manipulate it before generating code.
require('@babel/core').transformFromAst(ast, 'code', { presets: ['@babel/preset-env'] });TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript. It offers type checking and is aimed at the development of large applications. While it does transpile code, it is more focused on type safety and less on new syntax features.
esbuild is an extremely fast JavaScript bundler and minifier. It also provides a limited set of transformation features, such as JSX and TypeScript support. It is not as extensible as Babel but is focused on speed and efficiency.
swc is a super-fast compiler written in Rust that aims to be a drop-in replacement for Babel. It supports most of the modern JavaScript features and is focused on performance. It is gaining popularity in the JavaScript community for its speed.
Babel compiler core.
See our website @babel/core for more information or the issues associated with this package.
Using npm:
npm install --save-dev @babel/core
or using yarn:
yarn add @babel/core --dev
v7.27.1 (2025-04-30)
babel-parser
babel-parser, babel-types
babel-plugin-proposal-destructuring-private, babel-plugin-proposal-do-expressions, babel-traverse
babel-helper-wrap-function, babel-plugin-transform-async-to-generator
babel-helper-remap-async-to-generator, babel-plugin-transform-async-to-generator
babel-helper-fixtures, babel-parser
babel-generator, babel-parser
babel-parser
babel-compat-data, babel-preset-env
babel-traverse
babel-generator
babel-plugin-bugfix-v8-spread-parameters-in-optional-chaining, babel-plugin-proposal-decorators, babel-plugin-transform-arrow-functions, babel-plugin-transform-class-properties, babel-plugin-transform-destructuring, babel-plugin-transform-object-rest-spread, babel-plugin-transform-optional-chaining, babel-plugin-transform-parameters, babel-traverse
babel-runtime-corejs2, babel-runtime-corejs3, babel-runtime
regenerator-runtime dep in @babel/runtime (@nicolo-ribaudo)babel-compat-data, babel-preset-env
babel-compat-data, babel-standalone
babel-register
@babel/register to cts (@liuxingbaoyu)babel-cli, babel-compat-data, babel-core, babel-generator, babel-helper-compilation-targets, babel-helper-fixtures, babel-helper-module-imports, babel-helper-module-transforms, babel-helper-plugin-test-runner, babel-helper-transform-fixture-test-runner, babel-helpers, babel-node, babel-parser, babel-plugin-transform-modules-amd, babel-plugin-transform-modules-commonjs, babel-plugin-transform-modules-systemjs, babel-plugin-transform-modules-umd, babel-plugin-transform-react-display-name, babel-plugin-transform-regenerator, babel-plugin-transform-runtime, babel-plugin-transform-typeof-symbol, babel-plugin-transform-typescript, babel-preset-env, babel-register, babel-standalone, babel-types
babel-plugin-transform-regenerator
babel-helpers, babel-plugin-transform-async-generator-functions, babel-plugin-transform-regenerator, babel-preset-env, babel-runtime-corejs3
babel-helpers, babel-plugin-transform-regenerator
babel-helpers
babel-helpers, babel-plugin-transform-modules-commonjs, babel-runtime-corejs3
interopRequireWildcard size (@liuxingbaoyu)babel-helpers, babel-plugin-transform-async-generator-functions, babel-plugin-transform-regenerator, babel-preset-env, babel-runtime-corejs3
regeneratorRuntime size (@liuxingbaoyu)FAQs
Babel compiler core.
The npm package @babel/core receives a total of 55,476,234 weekly downloads. As such, @babel/core popularity was classified as popular.
We found that @babel/core demonstrated a healthy version release cadence and project activity because the last version was released less than a year ago. It has 4 open source maintainers collaborating on the project.
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