Node.js 25 has officially landed, and it’s one of the most performance-focused releases in recent memory. From faster builds to tighter security, this version sets the stage for a more efficient and secure runtime.

Here are the top five things developers should know.

1. V8 Engine Upgrade to 14.1

Node.js 25 comes with the latest V8 JavaScript engine (v14.1), boosting performance for core operations like JSON.stringify and base64 conversions. It also improves WebAssembly execution, making compute-heavy workloads smoother and faster.

2. Stronger Security Defaults

The new “secure-by-default” model introduces permission flags like --allow-net, giving developers more control over network and file access. It’s a big step toward safer runtime environments, especially for multi-tenant or cloud-deployed apps.

3. Cleaner Runtime – Legacy APIs Removed

Deprecated features such as SlowBuffer are gone for good. This helps streamline the core runtime, reduce technical debt, and encourage developers to use modern, standardized APIs.

4. Better Developer Experience

Node.js 25 improves build speed with portable compile caches and adds enhanced support for WebAssembly JSPI. Small refinements like optimized HTTP server options make local development and deployments noticeably faster.

5. Preparing for HTTP/3 and QUIC

While still experimental, Node.js is gearing up for HTTP/3 and QUIC support. This will enable faster, more resilient connections and is something teams should start planning for.

Conclusion

Node.js 25 is about speed, safety, and forward compatibility. If you’re maintaining enterprise or large-scale JavaScript applications, now is the time to start testing your codebase against the new release.

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