Node.js 26.9 enables FFI by default, benchmarks show 37ns per call

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Node.js 26.9.0, released on 16 September, makes the node:ffi module available by default, removing the need for the --experimental-ffi flag that was previously required in earlier 26.x versions. The change inverts the flag logic: --no-experimental-ffi is now needed to disable the feature, marking a genuine behavioral shift rather than a documentation update. Benchmarks comparing node:ffi against N-API addons show FFI is roughly 7-8% slower per call at around 37 nanoseconds, meaning it does not offer a performance advantage over existing native addons. However, FFI outperforms N-API by 15-20% in bulk buffer operations, where a single call processes large datasets, making it better suited to high-volume data transfers than frequent small calls. The key practical benefit of node:ffi remains convenience — it eliminates the need for a compiler toolchain, node-gyp, or per-ABI rebuilds in deployment environments.

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