The standardized name used for JavaScript in international specifications is ECMAScript.
JavaScript was created by Brendan Eich at Netscape in 1995. To help standardize the language, Netscape submitted it to Ecma International, where it was formalized as the ECMAScript specification. The first edition of the standard was published in 1997.
“JavaScript” remains the familiar name used by developers and browsers, while “ECMAScript” identifies the standardized language specification. The names are therefore closely related, but they are not interchangeable in every context. Microsoft’s historical implementation, JScript, was another implementation of the same broad language tradition.
Modern JavaScript features are commonly discussed by ECMAScript edition. ECMAScript 2015, also called ES6, introduced major features such as classes, modules, and arrow functions, beginning a more regular annual release cycle.