Node.js 24: A faster, sleeker JavaScript experience

The release of Node.js 24 marks a significant leap in performance, usability, and developer-centric features. Whether you’re building complex web applications or managing asynchronous operations, this version delivers updates that enhance speed, efficiency, and alignment with modern JavaScript standards.

V8 Engine Gets a Power-Up with Version 13.6

One of the major upgrades under the hood is the inclusion of V8 version 13.6 — the same JavaScript engine powering Google Chrome. This version unlocks several advanced JavaScript features:

• RegExp.escape simplifies the task of escaping special characters in regular expressions, eliminating the need for manual workarounds.
• Float16Array introduces support for 16-bit float arrays, particularly useful in graphics and machine learning contexts where memory usage and performance are critical.
• Atomics.pause adds control for developers working with Workers, allowing threads to pause as needed in concurrent environments.
• WebAssembly Memory64 brings support for 64-bit memory addressing, unlocking higher capacities and better performance for computationally intensive tasks.
• await using syntax for resource management helps ensure that system resources like files or sockets are cleaned up properly, reducing the chance of memory leaks.
• Error.isError provides a clean way to confirm whether a value is an Error object, streamlining debugging and validation.

These enhancements contribute to a faster, more streamlined development experience, all while aligning Node.js more closely with modern browser standards and ECMAScript proposals.

Permission Model Matures and URLPattern Becomes Native

The once-experimental Permission Model, introduced in Node.js 20, is now more stable. With Node.js 24, the flag has shifted from --experimental-permission to --permission, signaling broader adoption. This model allows developers to define what system-level operations their application can access—enhancing security by default.

Another welcome change is the full integration of the URLPattern API. Previously, you had to import it; now it’s globally available. This API simplifies routing and URL matching, letting you use cleaner patterns like /users/:id without regex gymnastics.

A More Intelligent Test Runner

The built-in test runner has received a quality-of-life upgrade. It now waits for subtests to complete before moving on, eliminating the need for manually adding await statements to each one. This improvement reduces common errors and makes test suites more reliable and easier to write—especially helpful for teams transitioning from third-party test frameworks.

Upgraded HTTP Support and npm 11

With Node.js 24, the internal HTTP client, Undici, has been bumped to version 7.0.0. This translates to better adherence to current web standards and a more consistent experience when working with fetch() and other network tools.

Meanwhile, npm v11 arrives with its own suite of enhancements:

• Faster installation speeds
• More robust security auditing
• Better compatibility with modern JavaScript workflows

There are also a few breaking changes and removals to note:

• npm no longer includes the hook command
• The --ignore-scripts flag now disables all lifecycle scripts
• If security audit requests fail, npm will no longer retry older fallback endpoints
• The minimum supported Node.js versions for npm are now ^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0

Cleaning House: Deprecations and Future Removals

Node.js 24 continues the trend of phasing out outdated features. Among the functions being deprecated:

• url.parse() is being replaced by the more standards-compliant WHATWG URL API
• Legacy tools like SlowBuffer and tls.createSecurePair are now on the chopping block
• Obsolete filesystem constants (e.g., fs.F_OK) are also marked for removal

For those maintaining legacy systems, these changes are a heads-up to start updating older codebases.

Final Thoughts

Node.js 24 isn’t just a routine update—it’s a substantial improvement across performance, security, and developer ergonomics. From a more capable JavaScript engine to smarter tooling and tighter security controls, this release delivers meaningful advancements that streamline everyday development and set the stage for the future of backend JavaScript.