core-js vs regenerator-runtime
JavaScript Polyfills and Runtime Libraries
core-jsregenerator-runtimeSimilar Packages:

JavaScript Polyfills and Runtime Libraries

Core-js and regenerator-runtime are essential libraries in modern JavaScript development. Core-js provides polyfills for ECMAScript features, enabling developers to use the latest JavaScript features while maintaining compatibility with older environments. Regenerator-runtime, on the other hand, is specifically designed to support the async/await syntax and generator functions, allowing developers to write asynchronous code in a more readable manner. Together, these libraries enhance the development experience by ensuring that modern JavaScript features are available across various environments, improving code maintainability and performance.

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core-js26,959,78625,4771.33 MB436 days agoMIT
regenerator-runtime03,83427.9 kB812 years agoMIT

Feature Comparison: core-js vs regenerator-runtime

Polyfill Coverage

  • core-js:

    Core-js offers extensive polyfill coverage for ECMAScript features, including ES6, ES7, and beyond. It allows developers to use modern JavaScript features without worrying about compatibility issues in older environments. With core-js, developers can seamlessly integrate features like promises, symbols, and typed arrays into their applications.

  • regenerator-runtime:

    Regenerator-runtime does not provide polyfills for ECMAScript features but focuses on enabling generator functions and async/await syntax. It transforms these features into compatible code that can run in environments that do not natively support them, ensuring that asynchronous programming remains accessible.

Usage Scenario

  • core-js:

    Core-js is suitable for applications that need to support a wide range of browsers, including older versions. It is particularly useful in large-scale applications where developers want to leverage the latest JavaScript features while ensuring a consistent experience across different environments.

  • regenerator-runtime:

    Regenerator-runtime is best used in applications that utilize async/await for handling asynchronous operations. It is particularly beneficial in scenarios where developers want to write cleaner and more maintainable asynchronous code without the complexity of traditional callback patterns.

Performance Impact

  • core-js:

    While core-js provides a vast array of polyfills, it may introduce some performance overhead due to the additional code that needs to be executed. However, this impact is generally minimal compared to the benefits of using modern JavaScript features. Developers should consider the trade-off between compatibility and performance based on their target environments.

  • regenerator-runtime:

    Regenerator-runtime is lightweight and specifically optimized for handling async/await and generator functions. It has a minimal performance impact, making it a suitable choice for applications that require efficient asynchronous code execution without the bloat of unnecessary polyfills.

Learning Curve

  • core-js:

    Core-js is straightforward to use, especially for developers familiar with modern JavaScript. However, understanding when and how to apply polyfills effectively requires some knowledge of ECMAScript standards and browser compatibility issues. Documentation and community support are available to aid in this learning process.

  • regenerator-runtime:

    Regenerator-runtime is relatively easy to integrate into projects, especially for developers already accustomed to async/await syntax. The learning curve is minimal, as it primarily focuses on enabling existing JavaScript features rather than introducing new concepts.

Community and Support

  • core-js:

    Core-js has a large community and is widely used in the JavaScript ecosystem. It is actively maintained, with regular updates to ensure compatibility with the latest ECMAScript standards. Developers can find extensive documentation and community resources to assist with implementation.

  • regenerator-runtime:

    Regenerator-runtime is also well-supported, particularly within projects that utilize Babel for transpiling JavaScript. It benefits from a strong community and is often included as a dependency in projects that require async/await functionality, ensuring that developers have access to support and resources.

How to Choose: core-js vs regenerator-runtime

  • core-js:

    Choose core-js if you need comprehensive polyfills for a wide range of ECMAScript features, including promises, symbols, and various collection types. It is ideal for projects that require backward compatibility with older browsers or environments that do not support the latest JavaScript standards.

  • regenerator-runtime:

    Choose regenerator-runtime if your project heavily relies on async/await or generator functions. It is specifically tailored for handling asynchronous code and is lightweight, making it a good choice for projects that need to manage async operations without the overhead of additional polyfills.

README for core-js

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fundraising PRs welcome version core-js downloads

I highly recommend reading this: So, what's next?

core-js is a modular standard library for JavaScript. Includes polyfills for ECMAScript up to 2026: promises, symbols, collections, iterators, typed arrays, many other features, ECMAScript proposals, some cross-platform WHATWG / W3C features and proposals like URL. You can load only required features or use it without global namespace pollution.

Raising funds

core-js isn't backed by a company, so the future of this project depends on you. Become a sponsor or a backer if you are interested in core-js: Open Collective, Patreon, Boosty, Bitcoin ( bc1qlea7544qtsmj2rayg0lthvza9fau63ux0fstcz ), Alipay.




Example of usage:

import 'core-js/actual';

Promise.try(() => 42).then(it => console.log(it)); // => 42

Array.from(new Set([1, 2, 3]).union(new Set([3, 4, 5]))); // => [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

[1, 2].flatMap(it => [it, it]); // => [1, 1, 2, 2]

Iterator.concat([1, 2], function * (i) { while (true) yield i++; }(3))
  .drop(1).take(5)
  .filter(it => it % 2)
  .map(it => it ** 2)
  .toArray(); // => [9, 25]

structuredClone(new Set([1, 2, 3])); // => new Set([1, 2, 3])

You can load only required features:

import 'core-js/actual/promise';
import 'core-js/actual/set';
import 'core-js/actual/iterator';
import 'core-js/actual/array/from';
import 'core-js/actual/array/flat-map';
import 'core-js/actual/structured-clone';

Promise.try(() => 42).then(it => console.log(it)); // => 42

Array.from(new Set([1, 2, 3]).union(new Set([3, 4, 5]))); // => [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

[1, 2].flatMap(it => [it, it]); // => [1, 1, 2, 2]

Iterator.concat([1, 2], function * (i) { while (true) yield i++; }(3))
  .drop(1).take(5)
  .filter(it => it % 2)
  .map(it => it ** 2)
  .toArray(); // => [9, 25]

structuredClone(new Set([1, 2, 3])); // => new Set([1, 2, 3])

Or use it without global namespace pollution:

import Promise from 'core-js-pure/actual/promise';
import Set from 'core-js-pure/actual/set';
import Iterator from 'core-js-pure/actual/iterator';
import from from 'core-js-pure/actual/array/from';
import flatMap from 'core-js-pure/actual/array/flat-map';
import structuredClone from 'core-js-pure/actual/structured-clone';

Promise.try(() => 42).then(it => console.log(it)); // => 42

from(new Set([1, 2, 3]).union(new Set([3, 4, 5]))); // => [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

flatMap([1, 2], it => [it, it]); // => [1, 1, 2, 2]

Iterator.concat([1, 2], function * (i) { while (true) yield i++; }(3))
  .drop(1).take(5)
  .filter(it => it % 2)
  .map(it => it ** 2)
  .toArray(); // => [9, 25]

structuredClone(new Set([1, 2, 3])); // => new Set([1, 2, 3])

It's a global version (first 2 examples), for more info see core-js documentation.