Polyfill Coverage
- regenerator-runtime: regenerator-runtime specifically targets generator functions and async/await, providing the necessary runtime support without additional polyfills.
- @babel/runtime: @babel/runtime does not provide polyfills; instead, it focuses on reducing code duplication for Babel's helper functions, which are used in transpiled code.
- core-js: core-js offers a modular approach, allowing developers to include only the necessary polyfills for specific ECMAScript features, which can significantly reduce bundle size.
- babel-runtime: babel-runtime does not provide polyfills but includes Babel's helper functions to optimize code size and reuse.
- @babel/polyfill: @babel/polyfill includes a wide range of polyfills for ECMAScript features, including Promise, Symbol, Array methods, and more, ensuring broad compatibility across different environments.
- babel-polyfill: babel-polyfill provides the same comprehensive polyfill coverage as @babel/polyfill but is now deprecated, making it less suitable for new projects.
Size and Performance
- regenerator-runtime: regenerator-runtime is lightweight and specifically designed for async/await and generator functions, ensuring minimal impact on bundle size.
- @babel/runtime: @babel/runtime helps reduce the overall bundle size by reusing Babel's helper functions, making it a good choice for libraries and shared code.
- core-js: core-js allows for selective polyfilling, which can lead to smaller bundle sizes as developers can include only what they need, enhancing performance.
- babel-runtime: babel-runtime is lightweight and focuses on helper functions, making it a good choice for optimizing output size without including unnecessary polyfills.
- @babel/polyfill: @babel/polyfill can increase bundle size significantly as it includes many polyfills. It is best used when full compatibility is required.
- babel-polyfill: babel-polyfill is larger than @babel/polyfill and is not recommended for new projects due to its deprecation.
Modularity
- regenerator-runtime: regenerator-runtime is not modular; it specifically targets async/await and generator functions without additional features.
- @babel/runtime: @babel/runtime is not modular; it focuses on providing Babel's helper functions without polyfills, making it suitable for projects that already handle polyfills separately.
- core-js: core-js is highly modular, allowing developers to import only the polyfills they need, which is ideal for optimizing bundle size and performance.
- babel-runtime: babel-runtime is not modular and is focused on helper functions, which can be reused across different projects.
- @babel/polyfill: @babel/polyfill is not modular; it includes a complete set of polyfills, which may lead to unnecessary bloat if only a few features are needed.
- babel-polyfill: babel-polyfill is not modular and is now deprecated, so it is advisable to use @babel/polyfill instead.
Usage Scenarios
- regenerator-runtime: regenerator-runtime is best used in projects that utilize async/await and generator functions without needing a full polyfill solution.
- @babel/runtime: @babel/runtime is ideal for libraries or applications that are shared across multiple projects, where reducing code duplication is crucial for maintaining smaller bundle sizes.
- core-js: core-js is perfect for applications that require specific polyfills without the need for a full set, allowing for a more tailored approach to compatibility.
- babel-runtime: babel-runtime is useful in scenarios where Babel's helper functions are needed without the overhead of full polyfills, particularly in optimized builds.
- @babel/polyfill: @babel/polyfill is best used in applications that need to support a wide range of browsers, especially older ones, while utilizing modern JavaScript features extensively.
- babel-polyfill: babel-polyfill is suitable for legacy projects but should be avoided in new projects due to its deprecation.
Maintenance and Support
- regenerator-runtime: regenerator-runtime is actively maintained and focuses on providing support for async/await and generator functions.
- @babel/runtime: @babel/runtime is actively maintained and regularly updated, ensuring compatibility with the latest Babel features and improvements.
- core-js: core-js is actively maintained and supports the latest ECMAScript proposals, making it a reliable choice for modern applications.
- babel-runtime: babel-runtime is actively maintained and is a critical part of the Babel ecosystem for optimizing output code.
- @babel/polyfill: @babel/polyfill is deprecated and will not receive further updates, making it less suitable for ongoing projects.
- babel-polyfill: babel-polyfill is deprecated and should be replaced with @babel/polyfill in new projects.