What is meant by vanilla JavaScript?
Vanilla Javascript, although there is a framework which is somewhat ironically named that, refers to the use of Javascript without any libraries. … Vanilla JS can also be defined in opposition to frameworks like Coffeescript or Typescript.
ES6 is the standard governing JavaScript where as JavaScript is the programming language. ES6 is next gen JavaScript syntax and nothing else. There are also some added features in the ES6 version of JavaScript such as arrow functions , rest and spread operator, destructuring , promises etc.
What is vanilla framework?
Vanilla is built on an MVC framework named Garden. Its purpose is to provide an extensible, pluggable platform on which to build all the addons that make Vanilla awesome. … The framework is a secondary concern to the forum.
Vanilla JS/just JS refers to ES5/6/7, just raw JS. Non-vanilla would be stuff like angular/jquery/typescript etc.
“Vanilla js” is just a way to refer to native (standards-based, non-extended) JavaScript. Generally in context it is a term to contrast with using libraries and frameworks (jQuery, React, etc). [Ref. 1]
A simple guideline might be: if you can write the code and run it in any current browser without additional tools or compile steps, it’s vanilla js.
Vanilla JS is a fast, lightweight, cross-platform framework for building incredible, powerful JavaScript applications.
In fact, Vanilla JS is already used on more websites than jQuery, Prototype JS, MooTools, YUI, and Google Web Toolkit – combined.
The Vanilla JS team takes pride in the fact that it is the most lightweight framework available anywhere. [Ref 2].
References
CoalWorks Official Blog 