Closure Compiler is a production-grade JavaScript optimizer and checker that parses JS, analyzes it, removes dead code, rewrites and minifies what remains, and emits faster, smaller bundles. Beyond minification, it performs advanced optimizations such as inlining, property collapsing, type-guided rewrites, and cross-module motion, often yielding substantial load-time wins. It includes a strong static checker that validates syntax, variable references, and type annotations (Closure types or JSDoc), catching bugs early and enabling aggressive transformations safely. The ecosystem provides a Java implementation, npm/JS builds, and documentation for integrating in modern toolchains. Closure Compiler has been used extensively at scale within Google and by the broader community, proving its robustness on very large codebases. Companion repositories track npm packaging and a JS-only variant for environments where running Java is undesirable.
Features
- Advanced whole-program optimizations beyond minification
- Strong static checks with JSDoc-based typing
- Dead-code elimination, inlining, and property collapsing
- Cross-module code motion and code splitting support
- Multiple distributions including Java and JS-only builds
- Battle-tested on very large, production codebases