Terser is a JavaScript parser, mangler, and compressor toolkit for ES6+ code. It's widely used to minify JavaScript code, reducing file size for faster website loading times. Terser supports advanced optimization techniques like dead code elimination, variable name compression, and more. A crucial tool for front-end developers looking to improve website performance and optimize code for production environments. It's a robust successor to UglifyJS, known for its enhanced ECMAScript support.
Terser's release frequency shows bursts of activity followed by periods of calm. Initial development in 2018 saw frequent releases. Activity remained relatively consistent until 2021, then decreased. 2023 had a higher frequency than 2021 and 2022. 2024 kept a moderate level. In 2025 activity is present, but with months without releases. August 2025 has no releases so far.
Terser's npm package downloads show a generally increasing trend from February 2024 to July 2025, peaking in June 2025. August 2025 downloads are significantly lower, but the month is not yet complete. The download counts vary from around 58 million to over 192 million.
