@babel/plugin-proposal-optional-chaining enables the use of the optional chaining operator ( ?. ) in your JavaScript code. This operator allows you to safely access properties on potentially null or undefined values without causing an error. By transforming this syntax during compilation, the plugin makes it compatible with older JavaScript environments that don't natively support optional chaining, ensuring broader browser and Node.js support for modern code. Using this plugin promotes cleaner, more readable code by avoiding verbose null checks.