Paul Krill
Editor at Large

ECMAScript 2026 specification approved

news
Jul 6, 20261 min

The updated specification for the JavaScript programming language adds methods for math, iterators, arrays, maps, encoding, and JSON.

Salesman laughs deceptively with a thumbs up, warning of shady business practices
Credit: Giulio_Fornasar / Shutterstock

ECMA International has approved ECMAScript 2026, the 17th edition of the specification for the JavaScript programming language. The standards organization approved the specification on June 30.

ECMAScript 2026 adds methods for math, iterators, arrays, maps, encoding, and JSON. The additions include Math.sumPrecise for summing an iterable of numbers of varying magnitude while minimizing precision loss; Iterator.concat for sequencing iterators; Array.fromAsync for constructing arrays from async iterables and other async sources; Error.isError for identifying error objects; methods to Map.prototype and WeakMap.prototype for providing a default value to use during retrieval when a key is not already present; methods to Uint8Array for converting to and from strings of hexadecimal-based and base64-encoded binary data; a parameter to JSON.parse revivers to access the matched segment of JSON source; and JSON.rawJSON for fine control over JSON.stringify output for primitive values.

Paul Krill

Paul Krill is editor at large at InfoWorld. Paul has been covering computer technology as a news and feature reporter for more than 35 years, including 30 years at InfoWorld. He has specialized in coverage of software development tools and technologies since the 1990s, and he continues to lead InfoWorld’s news coverage of software development platforms including Java and .NET and programming languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Rust, and Go. Long trusted as a reporter who prioritizes accuracy, integrity, and the best interests of readers, Paul is sought out by technology companies and industry organizations who want to reach InfoWorld’s audience of software developers and other information technology professionals. Paul has won a “Best Technology News Coverage” award from IDG.

More from this author