The programming language that serves as a successor to JavaScript is TypeScript. Developed by Microsoft, TypeScript introduces static typing, which helps identify errors during development. It enhances JavaScript by adding features like interfaces, enums, and advanced tooling support, making it easier for developers to manage large codebases. TypeScript compiles down to JavaScript, ensuring compatibility with existing JavaScript libraries and frameworks. Its goal is to improve the overall scalability and maintainability of applications while maintaining the flexibility of JavaScript, thus supporting robust software development practices.