# Webpack, release history and use on real websites.

A JavaScript module bundler with a rich ecosystem of plugins and loaders. Supports code splitting, tree shaking, hot module replacement, and many output formats.

- **Status:** Stable. Webpack 5 is stable, but new projects prefer Vite or Turbopack.
- **Category:** [Build Tools](https://be1st.ai/technologies/build)
- **First release:** 2012
- **License:** MIT
- **Latest version:** 5.112.2 (23 Oct 2026)
- **Official website:** https://webpack.js.org
- **Documentation:** https://webpack.js.org/concepts/
- **GitHub:** https://github.com/webpack/webpack
- **Page:** https://be1st.ai/technologies/build/webpack

## Webpack on audited websites

3,765 of the 16,845 websites audited by be1st run Webpack (22%). That ranks it #1 of the 7 technologies in Build Tools we have seen in audits.

### Websites running Webpack vs all websites

- **Web score:** 72 (all websites 72)
- **SEO:** 81 (all websites 79)
- **Security:** 59 (all websites 59)
- **Performance:** 66 (all websites 72)
- **AI Readiness:** 31 (all websites 31)

### Most used in Build Tools

1. [Webpack](https://be1st.ai/technologies/build/webpack): 22% (3,765)
2. [Vite](https://be1st.ai/technologies/build/vite): 15% (2,476)
3. [Turbopack](https://be1st.ai/technologies/build/turbopack): 13% (2,140)
4. [esbuild](https://be1st.ai/technologies/build/esbuild): 7.6% (1,287)
5. [Parcel](https://be1st.ai/technologies/build/parcel): <1% (82)
6. [Rolldown](https://be1st.ai/technologies/build/rolldown): <1% (44)
7. [Rollup](https://be1st.ai/technologies/build/rollup): <1% (8)

## Webpack versions and release history

6 release lines since 2012, as listed by the npm registry. The latest version is 5.112.2, released 23 Oct 2026.

| Version | Released | Latest release | Releases |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | 10 Oct 2020 | 5.112.2 (23 Oct 2026) | 223 |
| 4 | 25 Feb 2018 | 4.47.0 (6 Sep 2023) | 109 |
| 3 | 19 Jun 2017 | 3.12.0 (11 May 2018) | 23 |
| 2 | 17 Jan 2017 | 2.7.0 (12 Jul 2017) | 13 |
| 1 | 19 Feb 2014 | 1.15.0 (13 Apr 2017) | 99 |
| 0.x (before 1.0) | 11 Mar 2012 | 0.11.18 (31 Dec 2013) | 117 |

Sources: [npm registry, package webpack](https://www.npmjs.com/package/webpack), checked 8 Nov 2026.

## Questions about Webpack

### What is Webpack?

A JavaScript module bundler with a rich ecosystem of plugins and loaders. Supports code splitting, tree shaking, hot module replacement, and many output formats. The be1st catalog lists Webpack under Build Tools. License of Webpack: MIT.

### What is the latest version of Webpack?

The latest version of Webpack is 5.112.2, released 23 Oct 2026 (source: npm registry, package webpack).

### How many websites use Webpack?

3,765 of the 16,845 websites audited by be1st run Webpack (22%), as of 8 Nov 2026.

### When was Webpack first released?

Webpack was first released in 2012.

### Is Webpack still a modern choice?

Webpack is a stable, mature choice rather than a new one. Webpack 5 is stable, but new projects prefer Vite or Turbopack.

### What are the alternatives to Webpack?

Technologies that do the same job as Webpack include Vite, Turbopack, esbuild, Parcel, and Rollup.

Numbers: latest audit of each of 16,845 websites audited by be1st, as of 8 Nov 2026.