Module Bundler
A module bundler is a development tool that processes and combines multiple JavaScript files (or other assets) into a single or a few optimized bundles for web browsers. It resolves dependencies between modules, applies transformations like minification or transpilation, and manages assets such as CSS and images. This enables modern web development with modular code while ensuring efficient loading and compatibility.
Developers should use module bundlers when building complex web applications with many JavaScript modules, as they streamline dependency management and improve performance by reducing HTTP requests and file sizes. They are essential for projects using frameworks like React or Vue, and for applying build-time optimizations such as code splitting, tree shaking, and hot module replacement. Without a bundler, developers would manually manage script loading, leading to slower development and potential errors.