9.10.4 / 2026-10-02

• fix: handle MongoDB server 9.x returning collation: { locale: 'simple' } on all indexes #16557
• fix(populate): resolve dotted parent path when collecting deferred sub-populate children #16538 jfits
• fix(array): compare dates by value in indexOf() so pull() removes them #16535 giaBaoJS
• fix(map): register $set when Map#set() replaces an array #16540 #16539 luantaraschi
• fix(query): cast case and then expressions in $expr $switch branches #16534 kwy404
• docs(guide): fix read preference tag set example #16541 NotAFlightRisk