Highlight.js releases varied significantly over time. Initial releases were frequent in 2011-2012, then slowed through 2018. 2019-2021 saw a resurgence, with multiple versions released each year. The release frequency decreased again in 2022-2024. No releases occurred in the months January-September of 2025, as of today.
highlight.js is a syntax highlighter written in JavaScript. It works in the browser and on the server. It supports many languages and output formats (HTML/XML). Highlight.js is very easy to use because of automatic language detection, support for multiple languages, and plugin availability. It is valuable because it provides quick customization capabilities via CSS. The package is framework agnostic and available under the BSD License.
Highlight.js npm package downloads show a general upward trend from March 2024 to August 2025, peaking in June 2025 at 52.7 million. September 2025 downloads are incomplete and significantly lower, reflecting the current date. Overall, the package experienced substantial growth in popularity over the past year and a half.
