9.9.4 / 2026-08-25

• fix(query): set strictQuery and strict on _mongooseOptions consistently [#16451] [#16447]
• fix(hydration): use the doc model for looking up a ref [#16453] rawmind
• fix(schema): drop the map values subpath when removing a map path [#16457] rawmind
• fix(schema): remove a map that lives under a nested path [#16461] [#16457] luantaraschi
• fix(schema): do not repeat null in a toJSONSchema enum that already lists null [#16456] luantaraschi
• fix(schema): clone a document array element with its own constructor signature [#16463] [#16462] luantaraschi
• fix(schema): keep the map value schematype a single object when cloning [#16473] luantaraschi
• fix(schema): clarify duplicate index warning to note index is not created [#16476] vjymisal0
• perf(model): index bulkSave write errors by document id [#16474] yoominho91
• docs: add Atlas Vector Search and Atlas Search documentation [#16395]
• docs: fix dead MongoDB driver Collection link [#16458] rajanpanth