What is Babel's role in Liferay development?

Babel plays a crucial role in modern JavaScript development, particularly in the context of Liferay. Its primary function is to convert modern JavaScript code (ES6 and beyond) into a syntax that is compatible with older browsers. This ensures that developers can utilize the latest features of the JavaScript language without worrying about the compatibility issues that arise when those features are not supported by older browser versions.

By transpiling the code, Babel allows projects developed in Liferay to leverage the benefits of modern JavaScript, such as improved syntax, better performance, and enhanced capabilities, while still reaching a broader audience whose browsers may not support these innovations. This makes Babel a vital tool in ensuring that Liferay applications can run smoothly across various environments, promoting accessibility and user experience.

In contrast, other roles described do not align with Babel's functionality. Analyzing code performance relates to performance profiling tools, compiling Liferay projects pertains to build systems or task runners like Webpack, and managing server-side scripts typically involves backend frameworks or server environments.