What Is Hermes JavaScript?

Hermes JavaScript is a relatively new JavaScript engine that was developed by Facebook. It is designed to improve the performance of React Native applications. In this article, we will explore what Hermes JavaScript is, how it works, and its benefits.

What Is Hermes JavaScript?

Hermes JavaScript is an open-source JavaScript engine developed by Facebook. It was first introduced in 2019 as an alternative to the default JavaScript engine used in React Native applications. The primary goal of Hermes is to improve the performance of React Native applications on mobile devices.

How Does Hermes Work?

Hermes uses a Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation technique that compiles JavaScript code into native code during runtime. This approach improves performance because native code runs faster than interpreted code. The JIT compilation also reduces the memory footprint of the application by optimizing unused code paths and removing unnecessary objects.

Another way that Hermes improves performance is by reducing the time it takes for an application to start up. When a React Native application starts up, it needs to load all of its JavaScript files into memory before it can be executed. With Hermes, this process is much faster because it only loads the parts of the application that are necessary for startup.

Benefits of Using Hermes

There are several benefits to using Hermes in your React Native applications:

  • Better Performance: As mentioned earlier, Hermes improves the performance of React Native applications by compiling JavaScript into native code and reducing startup time.
  • Reduced Memory Footprint: By optimizing unused code paths and removing unnecessary objects, Hermes reduces the memory footprint of your application.
  • Faster Startup Time: Because Hermes only loads the parts of your application that are necessary for startup, it can significantly reduce startup time.
  • Better Battery Life: Hermes also improves battery life by reducing the amount of time that the CPU needs to spend executing JavaScript code.

Conclusion

Hermes JavaScript is an open-source JavaScript engine developed by Facebook that aims to improve the performance of React Native applications on mobile devices. It achieves this goal by using a Just-In-Time compilation technique, reducing startup time, and optimizing unused code paths. By using Hermes in your React Native applications, you can experience better performance, reduced memory footprint, faster startup times, and better battery life.