Debugging JavaScript, especially when dealing with minified files, can be challenging due to the difficulty in tracing errors back to the original source code. Source maps provide a solution by mapping minified code back to the original, allowing developers to utilize the browser's developer console to step through the source code and resolve issues efficiently. Tools like UglifyJS can generate source maps during the minification process, and services like Rollbar support the use of source maps for real-time production error monitoring. By uploading source maps, developers can obtain meaningful stack traces and identify the exact lines of code where errors occur, enhancing the debugging process. Ensuring proper configuration and version management is crucial for the effective use of source maps, particularly in production environments.