is-reference is a lightweight npm package designed to determine if a given JavaScript identifier is a valid reference (variable, function name, etc.). It's particularly useful in tools like linters, code formatters, and static analyzers. The package helps distinguish between reserved keywords, literals, and actual references within JavaScript code, streamlining code analysis and transformation processes. Its small size and focused purpose make it an efficient addition to any workflow involving JavaScript code parsing.
The npm package is-reference has been sporadically updated since its initial release in December 2016. Releases occurred roughly every few months in 2019 and 2020. Version 2.0.0 was released on Jan 2021 and version 3.0.0 was released on Jun 2021. The latest version is 3.0.3 released on Nov 2024. There have been no releases in the first eight months of 2025, as of September 11, 2025.
Downloads of the is-reference npm package show a strong upward trend from March 2024 to August 2025, peaking in June 2025. September 2025 downloads are significantly lower, likely due to incomplete data for the month. Overall, usage of the package has demonstrably increased.
