SuiteScript 2.0 vs. 2.1: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve worked with NetSuite customization, you’ve likely heard about SuiteScript 2.0 and SuiteScript 2.1. Both are JavaScript-based frameworks used to extend NetSuite functionality, but there are important differences between the two.

In this blog, we’ll explain how SuiteScript 2.0 and 2.1 compare, what’s new in 2.1, and why developers should start adopting it.

📝 What is SuiteScript 2.0?

SuiteScript 2.0 was introduced as a major upgrade to SuiteScript 1.0. It offered:

• Modular design using define for dependency injection.
• Cleaner API structure.
• Improved governance handling for scripts.

SuiteScript 2.0 is still widely used and supported, but it lacks support for modern JavaScript syntax.

⚡ What is SuiteScript 2.1?

SuiteScript 2.1 builds on 2.0 but adds modern JavaScript support.

Key Features of SuiteScript 2.1:

• Supports ES6+ syntax (let, const, arrow functions).
• Allows async/await for asynchronous operations.
• Cleaner, more efficient code structure.
• Better readability and maintainability.

👉 Pro Tip: SuiteScript 2.1 is the recommended version for all new projects.

📊 SuiteScript 2.0 vs. 2.1: A Comparison

🛠️ Example Code Comparison

SuiteScript 2.0 (older syntax)

define(['N/record'], function(record) {
    function createCustomer() {
        var customer = record.create({ type: record.Type.CUSTOMER });
        customer.setValue({ fieldId: 'companyname', value: 'ABC Corp' });
        customer.save();
    }
    return { execute: createCustomer };
});

SuiteScript 2.1 (modern syntax)

/**
 * @NApiVersion 2.1
 * @NScriptType ScheduledScript
 */
define(['N/record'], (record) => {

    const createCustomer = () => {
        const customer = record.create({ type: record.Type.CUSTOMER });
        customer.setValue({ fieldId: 'companyname', value: 'ABC Corp' });
        const customerId = customer.save();
        log.debug('Customer Created', 'Internal ID: ' + customerId);
    };

    return { execute: createCustomer };
});

👉 Notice how arrow functions and async/await make the code shorter and easier to understand.

✅ Final Thoughts

SuiteScript 2.0 was a huge leap forward compared to 1.0, but 2.1 takes things to the next level with modern JavaScript support.

If you’re maintaining old scripts, you’ll likely stick with 2.0 for now. But for new projects, SuiteScript 2.1 is the best choice—it’s cleaner, more efficient, and future-proof.