Chakra
Chakra is a JavaScript engine developed by Microsoft, used in web browsers.
Chakra is the part of a web browser that understands and runs JavaScript code. Think of it like the engine in a car; it takes the instructions written in JavaScript and makes the webpage do things, like show animations or respond to your clicks.
Microsoft used Chakra in its older browsers like Internet Explorer and in the early versions of Microsoft Edge. While it's not the primary engine in the current Edge browser (which uses Google's V8 engine), understanding what Chakra was helps explain Microsoft's history with web technologies and its contributions to open source.
Chakra was a JavaScript engine developed by Microsoft, initially for Internet Explorer and later for Microsoft Edge. It was designed for high performance and standards compliance, featuring Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation and garbage collection. Its architecture evolved significantly, with ChakraCore becoming an open-source project that could be embedded in other applications.
While Chakra was a key component of Microsoft's browser strategy, the current Microsoft Edge browser utilizes the V8 JavaScript engine, aligning with the Chromium project. The open-sourcing of ChakraCore reflects Microsoft's broader strategy of contributing to and leveraging open-source technologies in its developer ecosystem.
Chakra is appearing in recent news because Microsoft is discussing its history of open-sourcing key technologies, including this JavaScript engine. This open-source approach is being linked to Microsoft's current developer-focused AI strategy, suggesting a continuity in how they build and share technology.
- What was the process of open-sourcing TypeScript, Chakra, .NET, VS Code, and the Copilot extension?Microsoft · Microsoft Developer on YouTube ·
- What was the process of open-sourcing TypeScript, Chakra, .NET, VS Code, and the Copilot extension?Microsoft · Microsoft Developer on YouTube ·
- Microsoft Copilot
- Microsoft developed Chakra, a JavaScript engine, which is mentioned in the context of its open-sourcing history and its connection to current AI strategies.
- Chakra UI
- A popular React component library for building user interfaces, unrel
Chakra was developed by Microsoft as a JavaScript engine. The name likely refers to the concept of a 'center' or 'core' of power, reflecting its role in executing code. Source ↗
You can't directly 'try' Chakra today as it's not the engine in current mainstream browsers. However, you can see its legacy by looking at older web pages that might have been built with technologies it supported, or by exploring the open-source ChakraCore project on GitHub to understand its technical details.
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Questions people ask
- Is Chakra still used in Microsoft Edge?
- No, the current Microsoft Edge browser uses the V8 JavaScript engine, which is part of the Chromium project. Chakra was used in earlier versions of Edge.
- What is a JavaScript engine?
- A JavaScript engine is software that reads and executes JavaScript code. It's a fundamental component of web browsers, enabling dynamic and interactive web pages.
First seen on Subvolts Sep 18, 2026. Updated Sep 25, 2026. Written by an AI model from the items above and reviewed against them weekly; report an error.