Released on February 25, 2018, Webpack 4, named 'Legato', introduced significant improvements to the JavaScript development landscape by simplifying customization and enhancing performance, making it easier for developers to create cross-browser compatible web applications. Known for its integration with major frameworks like React and Angular, Webpack 4 reduced the complexity of previous versions by offering a Zero Configuration JavaScript approach, defaulting to specific file structures and providing specialized modes for production and development. These modes include optimizations such as tree-shaking and minification, which streamline the code and improve build times. The update also incorporates features like the removal of outdated plugins, new import and export capabilities for WebAssembly modules, and the introduction of the 'sideEffects: false' attribute to eliminate unused code. With strong community support and a plethora of plugins, Webpack continues to hold its ground against competitors like Parcel, despite the latter's ease of use and smaller bundle sizes. The addition of tools like Autoprefixer further enhances Webpack's functionality by automatically managing CSS prefixes, ensuring compatibility across different browsers.