The output refers to the bundles created from the source files. The source files are referred to as the input in Webpack. Output management refers to the management of these newly bundled files. Depending on the mode Webpack was running in when the build began, these bundles will either be development or production bundles.

The process by which Webpack produces the output or bundle from the source files is called compiling. Compiling is the process by which Webpack 5 assembles the information, including assets, files, and folders. The topic of configuration relates to the various options and configurations possible in Webpack, which will alter the style and method of compilation.

Development bundles permit some customization (such as local testing), but production bundles are the finished and fully compressed versions, ready for publication.

During this chapter, assets have been manually added to the index HTML file. As the project grows, manual handling will be difficult, especially when using multiple bundles. That being said, a few plugins exist that make this process much easier.

We will now discuss those options, but begin with preparing your now very busy project structure, which will become an increasingly important practice as the project develops.