ECMAScript is a standardized scripting language specification that serves as the foundation for JavaScript and similar languages. Established by Ecma International, its primary goal is to ensure interoperability across different web browsers and platforms. The standard defines the syntax, types, operators, and built-in objects used in JavaScript, providing consistency and preventing fragmentation among implementations. Since its inception, ECMAScript has continually evolved to introduce new capabilities while maintaining backward compatibility.

The first edition of ECMAScript was released in 1997, setting the groundwork for modern web development. Subsequent versions brought major enhancements, such as ECMAScript 3 in 1999, which introduced powerful error handling mechanisms, and ECMAScript 5 in 2009, which formalized strict mode and improved object property definitions. A crucial turning point came with ECMAScript 6 (also known as ES6 or ECMAScript 2015), which introduced features like let and const declarations, arrow functions, classes, and Promises—substantially enriching JavaScript’s capabilities.

Since ES6, ECMAScript has followed an annual release cycle, ensuring consistent updates while avoiding disruptive overhauls. Each update brings incremental improvements, such as ES7’s addition of Array.prototype.includes, ES8’s async/await functionality, and ES9’s enhancements to asynchronous iteration. Later editions, including ES10 and beyond, continue refining performance, security, and developer experience, cementing JavaScript’s role as a versatile programming language for web applications, server-side development, and beyond.