cleanup

# Conflicts:
#	.clang-tidy.hash
#	platformio.ini

.clang-tidy.hash

@@ -1 +1 @@
-ce05c28e9dc0b12c4f6e7454986ffea5123ac974a949da841be698c535f2083e
+9c4da80001128f05bb3bb3668a18609eea86e0b56bb04a22e66c7ec6609f92ff

.github/actions/build-image/action.yaml

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ runs:
 
     - name: Build and push to ghcr by digest
       id: build-ghcr
-      uses: docker/build-push-action@10e90e3645eae34f1e60eeb005ba3a3d33f178e8 # v6.19.2
+      uses: docker/build-push-action@601a80b39c9405e50806ae38af30926f9d957c47 # v6.19.1
       env:
         DOCKER_BUILD_SUMMARY: false
         DOCKER_BUILD_RECORD_UPLOAD: false
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ runs:
 
     - name: Build and push to dockerhub by digest
       id: build-dockerhub
-      uses: docker/build-push-action@10e90e3645eae34f1e60eeb005ba3a3d33f178e8 # v6.19.2
+      uses: docker/build-push-action@601a80b39c9405e50806ae38af30926f9d957c47 # v6.19.1
       env:
         DOCKER_BUILD_SUMMARY: false
         DOCKER_BUILD_RECORD_UPLOAD: false

docker/Dockerfile

@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@ FROM ghcr.io/esphome/docker-base:${BUILD_OS}-ha-addon-${BUILD_BASE_VERSION} AS b
 ARG BUILD_TYPE
 FROM base-source-${BUILD_TYPE} AS base
 
-RUN git config --system --add safe.directory "*" \
-    && git config --system advice.detachedHead false
+RUN git config --system --add safe.directory "*"
 
 # Install build tools for Python packages that require compilation
 # (e.g., ruamel.yaml.clibz used by ESP-IDF's idf-component-manager)

esphome/analyze_memory/const.py

@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ SYMBOL_PATTERNS = {
     "ipv6_stack": ["nd6_", "ip6_", "mld6_", "icmp6_", "icmp6_input"],
     # Order matters! More specific categories must come before general ones.
     # mdns must come before bluetooth to avoid "_mdns_disable_pcb" matching "ble_" pattern
-    "mdns_lib": ["mdns", "packet$"],
+    "mdns_lib": ["mdns"],
     # memory_mgmt must come before wifi_stack to catch mmu_hal_* symbols
     "memory_mgmt": [
         "mem_",
@@ -794,6 +794,7 @@ SYMBOL_PATTERNS = {
         "s_dp",
         "s_ni",
         "s_reg_dump",
+        "packet$",
         "d_mult_table",
         "K",
         "fcstab",

esphome/automation.py

@@ -57,14 +57,8 @@ def maybe_conf(conf, *validators):
     return validate
 
 
-def register_action(
-    name: str,
-    action_type: MockObjClass,
-    schema: cv.Schema,
-    *,
-    deferred: bool = False,
-):
-    return ACTION_REGISTRY.register(name, action_type, schema, deferred=deferred)
+def register_action(name: str, action_type: MockObjClass, schema: cv.Schema):
+    return ACTION_REGISTRY.register(name, action_type, schema)
 
 
 def register_condition(name: str, condition_type: MockObjClass, schema: cv.Schema):
@@ -341,10 +335,7 @@ async def component_is_idle_condition_to_code(
 
 
 @register_action(
-    "delay",
-    DelayAction,
-    cv.templatable(cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds),
-    deferred=True,
+    "delay", DelayAction, cv.templatable(cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds)
 )
 async def delay_action_to_code(
     config: ConfigType,
@@ -454,7 +445,7 @@ _validate_wait_until = cv.maybe_simple_value(
 )
 
 
-@register_action("wait_until", WaitUntilAction, _validate_wait_until, deferred=True)
+@register_action("wait_until", WaitUntilAction, _validate_wait_until)
 async def wait_until_action_to_code(
     config: ConfigType,
     action_id: ID,
@@ -587,26 +578,6 @@ async def build_condition_list(
     return conditions
 
 
-def has_deferred_actions(actions: ConfigType) -> bool:
-    """Check if a validated action list contains any deferred actions.
-
-    Deferred actions (delay, wait_until, script.wait) store trigger args
-    for later execution, making non-owning types like StringRef unsafe.
-    """
-    if isinstance(actions, list):
-        return any(has_deferred_actions(item) for item in actions)
-    if isinstance(actions, dict):
-        for key in actions:
-            if key in ACTION_REGISTRY and ACTION_REGISTRY[key].deferred:
-                return True
-        return any(
-            has_deferred_actions(v)
-            for v in actions.values()
-            if isinstance(v, (list, dict))
-        )
-    return False
-
-
 async def build_automation(
     trigger: MockObj, args: TemplateArgsType, config: ConfigType
 ) -> MockObj:

esphome/components/api/__init__.py

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ SERVICE_ARG_NATIVE_TYPES: dict[str, MockObj] = {
     "bool": cg.bool_,
     "int": cg.int32,
     "float": cg.float_,
-    "string": cg.StringRef,
+    "string": cg.std_string,
     "bool[]": cg.FixedVector.template(cg.bool_).operator("const").operator("ref"),
     "int[]": cg.FixedVector.template(cg.int32).operator("const").operator("ref"),
     "float[]": cg.FixedVector.template(cg.float_).operator("const").operator("ref"),
@@ -380,16 +380,9 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
                 if is_optional:
                     func_args.append((cg.bool_, "return_response"))
 
-            # Check if action chain has deferred actions that would make
-            # non-owning StringRef dangle (rx_buf_ reused after delay)
-            has_deferred = automation.has_deferred_actions(conf.get(CONF_THEN, []))
-
             service_arg_names: list[str] = []
             for name, var_ in conf[CONF_VARIABLES].items():
                 native = SERVICE_ARG_NATIVE_TYPES[var_]
-                # Fall back to std::string for string args if deferred actions exist
-                if has_deferred and native is cg.StringRef:
-                    native = cg.std_string
                 service_template_args.append(native)
                 func_args.append((native, name))
                 service_arg_names.append(name)

esphome/components/api/api.proto

@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ message HomeAssistantStateResponse {
   option (ifdef) = "USE_API_HOMEASSISTANT_STATES";
 
   string entity_id = 1;
-  string state = 2 [(null_terminate) = true];
+  string state = 2;
   string attribute = 3;
 }
 
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ message ExecuteServiceArgument {
   bool bool_ = 1;
   int32 legacy_int = 2;
   float float_ = 3;
-  string string_ = 4 [(null_terminate) = true];
+  string string_ = 4;
   // ESPHome 1.14 (api v1.3) make int a signed value
   sint32 int_ = 5;
   repeated bool bool_array = 6 [packed=false, (fixed_vector) = true];

esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp

@@ -1683,18 +1683,31 @@ void APIConnection::on_home_assistant_state_response(const HomeAssistantStateRes
   }
 
   for (auto &it : this->parent_->get_state_subs()) {
-    if (msg.entity_id != it.entity_id) {
+    // Compare entity_id: check length matches and content matches
+    size_t entity_id_len = strlen(it.entity_id);
+    if (entity_id_len != msg.entity_id.size() ||
+        memcmp(it.entity_id, msg.entity_id.c_str(), msg.entity_id.size()) != 0) {
       continue;
     }
 
     // Compare attribute: either both have matching attribute, or both have none
-    // it.attribute can be nullptr (meaning no attribute filter)
-    if (it.attribute != nullptr ? msg.attribute != it.attribute : !msg.attribute.empty()) {
+    size_t sub_attr_len = it.attribute != nullptr ? strlen(it.attribute) : 0;
+    if (sub_attr_len != msg.attribute.size() ||
+        (sub_attr_len > 0 && memcmp(it.attribute, msg.attribute.c_str(), sub_attr_len) != 0)) {
       continue;
     }
 
-    // msg.state is already null-terminated in-place after protobuf decode
-    it.callback(msg.state);
+    // Create null-terminated state for callback (parse_number needs null-termination)
+    // HA state max length is 255 characters, but attributes can be much longer
+    // Use stack buffer for common case (states), heap fallback for large attributes
+    size_t state_len = msg.state.size();
+    SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<MAX_STATE_LEN + 1> state_buf_alloc(state_len + 1);
+    char *state_buf = reinterpret_cast<char *>(state_buf_alloc.get());
+    if (state_len > 0) {
+      memcpy(state_buf, msg.state.c_str(), state_len);
+    }
+    state_buf[state_len] = '\0';
+    it.callback(StringRef(state_buf, state_len));
   }
 }
 #endif
@@ -1851,8 +1864,6 @@ void APIConnection::on_fatal_error() {
   this->flags_.remove = true;
 }
 
-void __attribute__((flatten)) APIConnection::DeferredBatch::push_item(const BatchItem &item) { items.push_back(item); }
-
 void APIConnection::DeferredBatch::add_item(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t message_type, uint8_t estimated_size,
                                             uint8_t aux_data_index) {
   // Check if we already have a message of this type for this entity
@@ -1869,7 +1880,7 @@ void APIConnection::DeferredBatch::add_item(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t message_
     }
   }
   // No existing item found (or event), add new one
-  this->push_item({entity, message_type, estimated_size, aux_data_index});
+  items.push_back({entity, message_type, estimated_size, aux_data_index});
 }
 
 void APIConnection::DeferredBatch::add_item_front(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t message_type, uint8_t estimated_size) {
@@ -1877,7 +1888,7 @@ void APIConnection::DeferredBatch::add_item_front(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t me
   // This avoids expensive vector::insert which shifts all elements
   // Note: We only ever have one high-priority message at a time (ping OR disconnect)
   // If we're disconnecting, pings are blocked, so this simple swap is sufficient
-  this->push_item({entity, message_type, estimated_size, AUX_DATA_UNUSED});
+  items.push_back({entity, message_type, estimated_size, AUX_DATA_UNUSED});
   if (items.size() > 1) {
     // Swap the new high-priority item to the front
     std::swap(items.front(), items.back());

esphome/components/api/api_connection.h

@@ -541,8 +541,6 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
                   uint8_t aux_data_index = AUX_DATA_UNUSED);
     // Add item to the front of the batch (for high priority messages like ping)
     void add_item_front(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t message_type, uint8_t estimated_size);
-    // Single push_back site to avoid duplicate _M_realloc_insert instantiation
-    void push_item(const BatchItem &item);
 
     // Clear all items
     void clear() {

esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.cpp

@@ -138,12 +138,10 @@ APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::handle_noise_error_(int err, const LogString *func
 
 /// Run through handshake messages (if in that phase)
 APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::loop() {
-  // Cache ready() outside the loop. On ESP8266 LWIP raw TCP, ready() returns false once
-  // the rx buffer is consumed. Re-checking each iteration would block handshake writes
-  // that must follow reads, deadlocking the handshake. state_action() will return
-  // WOULD_BLOCK when no more data is available to read.
-  bool socket_ready = this->socket_->ready();
-  while (state_ != State::DATA && socket_ready) {
+  // During handshake phase, process as many actions as possible until we can't progress
+  // socket_->ready() stays true until next main loop, but state_action() will return
+  // WOULD_BLOCK when no more data is available to read
+  while (state_ != State::DATA && this->socket_->ready()) {
     APIError err = state_action_();
     if (err == APIError::WOULD_BLOCK) {
       break;
@@ -201,10 +199,9 @@ APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::try_read_frame_() {
     return (state_ == State::DATA) ? APIError::BAD_DATA_PACKET : APIError::BAD_HANDSHAKE_PACKET_LEN;
   }
 
-  // Reserve space for body (+1 for null terminator so protobuf StringRef fields
-  // can be safely null-terminated in-place after decode)
-  if (this->rx_buf_.size() != msg_size + 1) {
-    this->rx_buf_.resize(msg_size + 1);
+  // Reserve space for body
+  if (this->rx_buf_.size() != msg_size) {
+    this->rx_buf_.resize(msg_size);
   }
 
   if (rx_buf_len_ < msg_size) {

esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_plaintext.cpp

@@ -163,10 +163,9 @@ APIError APIPlaintextFrameHelper::try_read_frame_() {
   }
   // header reading done
 
-  // Reserve space for body (+1 for null terminator so protobuf StringRef fields
-  // can be safely null-terminated in-place after decode)
-  if (this->rx_buf_.size() != this->rx_header_parsed_len_ + 1) {
-    this->rx_buf_.resize(this->rx_header_parsed_len_ + 1);
+  // Reserve space for body
+  if (this->rx_buf_.size() != this->rx_header_parsed_len_) {
+    this->rx_buf_.resize(this->rx_header_parsed_len_);
   }
 
   if (rx_buf_len_ < rx_header_parsed_len_) {

esphome/components/api/api_options.proto

@@ -90,13 +90,4 @@ extend google.protobuf.FieldOptions {
     //   - uint16_t <field>_length_{0};
     //   - uint16_t <field>_count_{0};
     optional bool packed_buffer = 50015 [default=false];
-
-    // null_terminate: Write a null byte after string data in the decode buffer.
-    // When set on a string field in a SOURCE_CLIENT (decodable) message, the
-    // generated decode() override writes '\0' at data[length] after decoding.
-    // This makes the StringRef safe for c_str() usage without copying.
-    // Safe because: (1) frame helpers reserve +1 byte in rx_buf_, and
-    // (2) the overwritten byte was already consumed during decode.
-    // Only mark fields that actually need null-terminated access.
-    optional bool null_terminate = 50016 [default=false];
 }

esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp

@@ -953,12 +953,6 @@ bool HomeAssistantStateResponse::decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengthDel
   }
   return true;
 }
-void HomeAssistantStateResponse::decode(const uint8_t *buffer, size_t length) {
-  ProtoDecodableMessage::decode(buffer, length);
-  if (!this->state.empty()) {
-    const_cast<char *>(this->state.c_str())[this->state.size()] = '\0';
-  }
-}
 #endif
 bool GetTimeResponse::decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengthDelimited value) {
   switch (field_id) {
@@ -1063,9 +1057,6 @@ void ExecuteServiceArgument::decode(const uint8_t *buffer, size_t length) {
   uint32_t count_string_array = ProtoDecodableMessage::count_repeated_field(buffer, length, 9);
   this->string_array.init(count_string_array);
   ProtoDecodableMessage::decode(buffer, length);
-  if (!this->string_.empty()) {
-    const_cast<char *>(this->string_.c_str())[this->string_.size()] = '\0';
-  }
 }
 bool ExecuteServiceRequest::decode_varint(uint32_t field_id, ProtoVarInt value) {
   switch (field_id) {

esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h

@@ -1095,7 +1095,6 @@ class HomeAssistantStateResponse final : public ProtoDecodableMessage {
   StringRef entity_id{};
   StringRef state{};
   StringRef attribute{};
-  void decode(const uint8_t *buffer, size_t length) override;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
   const char *dump_to(DumpBuffer &out) const override;
 #endif

esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp

@@ -117,7 +117,37 @@ void APIServer::setup() {
 void APIServer::loop() {
   // Accept new clients only if the socket exists and has incoming connections
   if (this->socket_ && this->socket_->ready()) {
-    this->accept_new_connections_();
+    while (true) {
+      struct sockaddr_storage source_addr;
+      socklen_t addr_len = sizeof(source_addr);
+
+      auto sock = this->socket_->accept_loop_monitored((struct sockaddr *) &source_addr, &addr_len);
+      if (!sock)
+        break;
+
+      char peername[socket::SOCKADDR_STR_LEN];
+      sock->getpeername_to(peername);
+
+      // Check if we're at the connection limit
+      if (this->clients_.size() >= this->max_connections_) {
+        ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Max connections (%d), rejecting %s", this->max_connections_, peername);
+        // Immediately close - socket destructor will handle cleanup
+        sock.reset();
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Accept %s", peername);
+
+      auto *conn = new APIConnection(std::move(sock), this);
+      this->clients_.emplace_back(conn);
+      conn->start();
+
+      // First client connected - clear warning and update timestamp
+      if (this->clients_.size() == 1 && this->reboot_timeout_ != 0) {
+        this->status_clear_warning();
+        this->last_connected_ = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   if (this->clients_.empty()) {
@@ -148,88 +178,46 @@ void APIServer::loop() {
   while (client_index < this->clients_.size()) {
     auto &client = this->clients_[client_index];
 
-    // Common case: process active client
     if (!client->flags_.remove) {
+      // Common case: process active client
       client->loop();
-    }
-    // Handle disconnection promptly - close socket to free LWIP PCB
-    // resources and prevent retransmit crashes on ESP8266.
-    if (client->flags_.remove) {
-      // Rare case: handle disconnection (don't increment - swapped element needs processing)
-      this->remove_client_(client_index);
-    } else {
       client_index++;
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-void APIServer::remove_client_(size_t client_index) {
-  auto &client = this->clients_[client_index];
-
-#ifdef USE_API_USER_DEFINED_ACTION_RESPONSES
-  this->unregister_active_action_calls_for_connection(client.get());
-#endif
-  ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Remove connection %s", client->get_name());
-
-#ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER
-  // Save client info before closing socket and removal for the trigger
-  char peername_buf[socket::SOCKADDR_STR_LEN];
-  std::string client_name(client->get_name());
-  std::string client_peername(client->get_peername_to(peername_buf));
-#endif
-
-  // Close socket now (was deferred from on_fatal_error to allow getpeername)
-  client->helper_->close();
-
-  // Swap with the last element and pop (avoids expensive vector shifts)
-  if (client_index < this->clients_.size() - 1) {
-    std::swap(this->clients_[client_index], this->clients_.back());
-  }
-  this->clients_.pop_back();
-
-  // Last client disconnected - set warning and start tracking for reboot timeout
-  if (this->clients_.empty() && this->reboot_timeout_ != 0) {
-    this->status_set_warning();
-    this->last_connected_ = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
-  }
-
-#ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER
-  // Fire trigger after client is removed so api.connected reflects the true state
-  this->client_disconnected_trigger_.trigger(client_name, client_peername);
-#endif
-}
-
-void __attribute__((flatten)) APIServer::accept_new_connections_() {
-  while (true) {
-    struct sockaddr_storage source_addr;
-    socklen_t addr_len = sizeof(source_addr);
-
-    auto sock = this->socket_->accept_loop_monitored((struct sockaddr *) &source_addr, &addr_len);
-    if (!sock)
-      break;
-
-    char peername[socket::SOCKADDR_STR_LEN];
-    sock->getpeername_to(peername);
-
-    // Check if we're at the connection limit
-    if (this->clients_.size() >= this->max_connections_) {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Max connections (%d), rejecting %s", this->max_connections_, peername);
-      // Immediately close - socket destructor will handle cleanup
-      sock.reset();
       continue;
     }
 
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Accept %s", peername);
+    // Rare case: handle disconnection
+#ifdef USE_API_USER_DEFINED_ACTION_RESPONSES
+    this->unregister_active_action_calls_for_connection(client.get());
+#endif
+    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Remove connection %s", client->get_name());
 
-    auto *conn = new APIConnection(std::move(sock), this);
-    this->clients_.emplace_back(conn);
-    conn->start();
+#ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER
+    // Save client info before closing socket and removal for the trigger
+    char peername_buf[socket::SOCKADDR_STR_LEN];
+    std::string client_name(client->get_name());
+    std::string client_peername(client->get_peername_to(peername_buf));
+#endif
 
-    // First client connected - clear warning and update timestamp
-    if (this->clients_.size() == 1 && this->reboot_timeout_ != 0) {
-      this->status_clear_warning();
+    // Close socket now (was deferred from on_fatal_error to allow getpeername)
+    client->helper_->close();
+
+    // Swap with the last element and pop (avoids expensive vector shifts)
+    if (client_index < this->clients_.size() - 1) {
+      std::swap(this->clients_[client_index], this->clients_.back());
+    }
+    this->clients_.pop_back();
+
+    // Last client disconnected - set warning and start tracking for reboot timeout
+    if (this->clients_.empty() && this->reboot_timeout_ != 0) {
+      this->status_set_warning();
       this->last_connected_ = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
     }
+
+#ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER
+    // Fire trigger after client is removed so api.connected reflects the true state
+    this->client_disconnected_trigger_.trigger(client_name, client_peername);
+#endif
+    // Don't increment client_index since we need to process the swapped element
   }
 }
 

esphome/components/api/api_server.h

@@ -234,11 +234,6 @@ class APIServer : public Component,
 #endif
 
  protected:
-  // Accept incoming socket connections. Only called when socket has pending connections.
-  void __attribute__((noinline)) accept_new_connections_();
-  // Remove a disconnected client by index. Swaps with last element and pops.
-  void __attribute__((noinline)) remove_client_(size_t client_index);
-
 #ifdef USE_API_NOISE
   bool update_noise_psk_(const SavedNoisePsk &new_psk, const LogString *save_log_msg, const LogString *fail_log_msg,
                          const psk_t &active_psk, bool make_active);

esphome/components/api/user_services.cpp

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #include "user_services.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
-#include "esphome/core/string_ref.h"
 
 namespace esphome::api {
 
@@ -12,8 +11,6 @@ template<> int32_t get_execute_arg_value<int32_t>(const ExecuteServiceArgument &
 }
 template<> float get_execute_arg_value<float>(const ExecuteServiceArgument &arg) { return arg.float_; }
 template<> std::string get_execute_arg_value<std::string>(const ExecuteServiceArgument &arg) { return arg.string_; }
-// Zero-copy StringRef version for YAML-generated services (string_ is null-terminated after decode)
-template<> StringRef get_execute_arg_value<StringRef>(const ExecuteServiceArgument &arg) { return arg.string_; }
 
 // Legacy std::vector versions for external components using custom_api_device.h - optimized with reserve
 template<> std::vector<bool> get_execute_arg_value<std::vector<bool>>(const ExecuteServiceArgument &arg) {
@@ -64,8 +61,6 @@ template<> enums::ServiceArgType to_service_arg_type<bool>() { return enums::SER
 template<> enums::ServiceArgType to_service_arg_type<int32_t>() { return enums::SERVICE_ARG_TYPE_INT; }
 template<> enums::ServiceArgType to_service_arg_type<float>() { return enums::SERVICE_ARG_TYPE_FLOAT; }
 template<> enums::ServiceArgType to_service_arg_type<std::string>() { return enums::SERVICE_ARG_TYPE_STRING; }
-// Zero-copy StringRef version for YAML-generated services
-template<> enums::ServiceArgType to_service_arg_type<StringRef>() { return enums::SERVICE_ARG_TYPE_STRING; }
 
 // Legacy std::vector versions for external components using custom_api_device.h
 template<> enums::ServiceArgType to_service_arg_type<std::vector<bool>>() { return enums::SERVICE_ARG_TYPE_BOOL_ARRAY; }

esphome/components/captive_portal/captive_portal.cpp

@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ void CaptivePortal::handle_config(AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {
   request->send(stream);
 }
 void CaptivePortal::handle_wifisave(AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {
-  const auto &ssid = request->arg("ssid");
-  const auto &psk = request->arg("psk");
+  std::string ssid = request->arg("ssid").c_str();  // NOLINT(readability-redundant-string-cstr)
+  std::string psk = request->arg("psk").c_str();    // NOLINT(readability-redundant-string-cstr)
   ESP_LOGI(TAG,
            "Requested WiFi Settings Change:\n"
            "  SSID='%s'\n"
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ void CaptivePortal::handle_wifisave(AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {
            ssid.c_str(), psk.c_str());
 #ifdef USE_ESP8266
   // ESP8266 is single-threaded, call directly
-  wifi::global_wifi_component->save_wifi_sta(ssid.c_str(), psk.c_str());
+  wifi::global_wifi_component->save_wifi_sta(ssid, psk);
 #else
   // Defer save to main loop thread to avoid NVS operations from HTTP thread
-  this->defer([ssid, psk]() { wifi::global_wifi_component->save_wifi_sta(ssid.c_str(), psk.c_str()); });
+  this->defer([ssid, psk]() { wifi::global_wifi_component->save_wifi_sta(ssid, psk); });
 #endif
   request->redirect(ESPHOME_F("/?save"));
 }

esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py

@@ -613,9 +613,13 @@ def _format_framework_arduino_version(ver: cv.Version) -> str:
     return f"{ARDUINO_FRAMEWORK_PKG}@https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/releases/download/{ver}/{filename}"
 
 
-def _format_framework_espidf_version(ver: cv.Version, release: str) -> str:
+def _format_framework_espidf_version(
+    ver: cv.Version, release: str | None = None
+) -> str:
     # format the given espidf (https://github.com/pioarduino/esp-idf/releases) version to
     # a PIO platformio/framework-espidf value
+    if release is None:
+        release = ESP_IDF_RELEASE_LOOKUP.get(ver)
     if ver == cv.Version(5, 4, 3) or ver >= cv.Version(5, 5, 1):
         ext = "tar.xz"
     else:
@@ -692,6 +696,9 @@ ESP_IDF_FRAMEWORK_VERSION_LOOKUP = {
     "latest": cv.Version(5, 5, 2),
     "dev": cv.Version(5, 5, 2),
 }
+ESP_IDF_RELEASE_LOOKUP: dict[cv.Version, str] = {
+    cv.Version(5, 5, 2): "260206",
+}
 ESP_IDF_PLATFORM_VERSION_LOOKUP = {
     cv.Version(5, 5, 2): cv.Version(55, 3, 37),
     cv.Version(5, 5, 1): cv.Version(55, 3, 31, "2"),
@@ -755,7 +762,7 @@ def _check_versions(config):
         platform_lookup = ESP_IDF_PLATFORM_VERSION_LOOKUP.get(version)
         value[CONF_SOURCE] = value.get(
             CONF_SOURCE,
-            _format_framework_espidf_version(version, value.get(CONF_RELEASE, None)),
+            _format_framework_espidf_version(version, value.get(CONF_RELEASE)),
         )
         if _is_framework_url(value[CONF_SOURCE]):
             value[CONF_SOURCE] = f"pioarduino/framework-espidf@{value[CONF_SOURCE]}"
@@ -1467,7 +1474,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
             if (idf_ver := ARDUINO_IDF_VERSION_LOOKUP.get(framework_ver)) is not None:
                 cg.add_platformio_option(
                     "platform_packages",
-                    [_format_framework_espidf_version(idf_ver, None)],
+                    [_format_framework_espidf_version(idf_ver)],
                 )
                 # Use stub package to skip downloading precompiled libs
                 stubs_dir = CORE.relative_build_path("arduino_libs_stub")
@@ -1511,6 +1518,14 @@ async def to_code(config):
         f"CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_FLASHSIZE_{config[CONF_FLASH_SIZE]}", True
     )
 
+    # ESP32-P4: The ESP-IDF 5.5.2.260206 release changed the default of
+    # ESP32P4_SELECTS_REV_LESS_V3 from y to n. PlatformIO always uses
+    # sections.ld.in (for rev <3) rather than sections.rev3.ld.in (for rev >=3),
+    # causing a linker script mismatch with the generated memory.ld.
+    # Restore the previous default until PlatformIO handles this properly.
+    if variant == VARIANT_ESP32P4:
+        add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_ESP32P4_SELECTS_REV_LESS_V3", True)
+
     # Set minimum chip revision for ESP32 variant
     # Setting this to 3.0 or higher reduces flash size by excluding workaround code,
     # and for PSRAM users saves significant IRAM by keeping C library functions in ROM.

esphome/components/esp32_ble/__init__.py

@@ -403,18 +403,21 @@ def final_validation(config):
         add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_ESP_HOSTED_ENABLE_BT_BLUEDROID", True)
         add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_ESP_HOSTED_BLUEDROID_HCI_VHCI", True)
 
-    # Check if BLE Server is needed
-    has_ble_server = "esp32_ble_server" in full_config
-
     # Check if BLE Client is needed (via esp32_ble_tracker or esp32_ble_client)
     has_ble_client = (
         "esp32_ble_tracker" in full_config or "esp32_ble_client" in full_config
     )
 
-    # ESP-IDF BLE stack requires GATT Server to be enabled when GATT Client is enabled
-    # This is an internal dependency in the Bluedroid stack (tested ESP-IDF 5.4.2-5.5.1)
+    # Always enable GATTS: ESP-IDF 5.5.2.260206 has a bug in gatt_main.c where a
+    # GATT_TRACE_DEBUG references 'msg_len' outside the GATTS_INCLUDED/GATTC_INCLUDED
+    # guard, causing a compile error when both are disabled.
+    # Additionally, when GATT Client is enabled, GATT Server must also be enabled
+    # as an internal dependency in the Bluedroid stack.
     # See: https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/17724
-    add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_BT_GATTS_ENABLE", has_ble_server or has_ble_client)
+    # TODO: Revert to conditional once the gatt_main.c bug is fixed upstream:
+    #   has_ble_server = "esp32_ble_server" in full_config
+    #   add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_BT_GATTS_ENABLE", has_ble_server or has_ble_client)
+    add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_BT_GATTS_ENABLE", True)
     add_idf_sdkconfig_option("CONFIG_BT_GATTC_ENABLE", has_ble_client)
 
     # Handle max_connections: check for deprecated location in esp32_ble_tracker

esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.h

@@ -110,8 +110,6 @@ class EthernetComponent : public Component {
   const char *get_use_address() const;
   void set_use_address(const char *use_address);
   void get_eth_mac_address_raw(uint8_t *mac);
-  // Remove before 2026.9.0
-  ESPDEPRECATED("Use get_eth_mac_address_pretty_into_buffer() instead. Removed in 2026.9.0", "2026.3.0")
   std::string get_eth_mac_address_pretty();
   const char *get_eth_mac_address_pretty_into_buffer(std::span<char, MAC_ADDRESS_PRETTY_BUFFER_SIZE> buf);
   eth_duplex_t get_duplex_mode();

esphome/components/pulse_meter/pulse_meter_sensor.cpp

@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ void PulseMeterSensor::setup() {
 }
 
 void PulseMeterSensor::loop() {
-  State state;
+  // Reset the count in get before we pass it back to the ISR as set
+  this->get_->count_ = 0;
 
   {
     // Lock the interrupt so the interrupt code doesn't interfere with itself
@@ -57,35 +58,31 @@ void PulseMeterSensor::loop() {
     }
     this->last_pin_val_ = current;
 
-    // Get the latest state from the ISR and reset the count in the ISR
-    state.last_detected_edge_us_ = this->state_.last_detected_edge_us_;
-    state.last_rising_edge_us_ = this->state_.last_rising_edge_us_;
-    state.count_ = this->state_.count_;
-    this->state_.count_ = 0;
+    // Swap out set and get to get the latest state from the ISR
+    std::swap(this->set_, this->get_);
   }
 
   const uint32_t now = micros();
 
   // If an edge was peeked, repay the debt
-  if (this->peeked_edge_ && state.count_ > 0) {
+  if (this->peeked_edge_ && this->get_->count_ > 0) {
     this->peeked_edge_ = false;
-    state.count_--;
+    this->get_->count_--;  // NOLINT(clang-diagnostic-deprecated-volatile)
   }
 
-  // If there is an unprocessed edge, and filter_us_ has passed since, count this edge early.
-  // Wait for the debt to be repaid before counting another unprocessed edge early.
-  if (!this->peeked_edge_ && state.last_rising_edge_us_ != state.last_detected_edge_us_ &&
-      now - state.last_rising_edge_us_ >= this->filter_us_) {
+  // If there is an unprocessed edge, and filter_us_ has passed since, count this edge early
+  if (this->get_->last_rising_edge_us_ != this->get_->last_detected_edge_us_ &&
+      now - this->get_->last_rising_edge_us_ >= this->filter_us_) {
     this->peeked_edge_ = true;
-    state.last_detected_edge_us_ = state.last_rising_edge_us_;
-    state.count_++;
+    this->get_->last_detected_edge_us_ = this->get_->last_rising_edge_us_;
+    this->get_->count_++;  // NOLINT(clang-diagnostic-deprecated-volatile)
   }
 
   // Check if we detected a pulse this loop
-  if (state.count_ > 0) {
+  if (this->get_->count_ > 0) {
     // Keep a running total of pulses if a total sensor is configured
     if (this->total_sensor_ != nullptr) {
-      this->total_pulses_ += state.count_;
+      this->total_pulses_ += this->get_->count_;
       const uint32_t total = this->total_pulses_;
       this->total_sensor_->publish_state(total);
     }
@@ -97,15 +94,15 @@ void PulseMeterSensor::loop() {
         this->meter_state_ = MeterState::RUNNING;
       } break;
       case MeterState::RUNNING: {
-        uint32_t delta_us = state.last_detected_edge_us_ - this->last_processed_edge_us_;
-        float pulse_width_us = delta_us / float(state.count_);
-        ESP_LOGV(TAG, "New pulse, delta: %" PRIu32 " µs, count: %" PRIu32 ", width: %.5f µs", delta_us, state.count_,
-                 pulse_width_us);
+        uint32_t delta_us = this->get_->last_detected_edge_us_ - this->last_processed_edge_us_;
+        float pulse_width_us = delta_us / float(this->get_->count_);
+        ESP_LOGV(TAG, "New pulse, delta: %" PRIu32 " µs, count: %" PRIu32 ", width: %.5f µs", delta_us,
+                 this->get_->count_, pulse_width_us);
         this->publish_state((60.0f * 1000000.0f) / pulse_width_us);
       } break;
     }
 
-    this->last_processed_edge_us_ = state.last_detected_edge_us_;
+    this->last_processed_edge_us_ = this->get_->last_detected_edge_us_;
   }
   // No detected edges this loop
   else {
@@ -144,14 +141,14 @@ void IRAM_ATTR PulseMeterSensor::edge_intr(PulseMeterSensor *sensor) {
   // This is an interrupt handler - we can't call any virtual method from this method
   // Get the current time before we do anything else so the measurements are consistent
   const uint32_t now = micros();
-  auto &edge_state = sensor->edge_state_;
-  auto &state = sensor->state_;
+  auto &state = sensor->edge_state_;
+  auto &set = *sensor->set_;
 
-  if ((now - edge_state.last_sent_edge_us_) >= sensor->filter_us_) {
-    edge_state.last_sent_edge_us_ = now;
-    state.last_detected_edge_us_ = now;
-    state.last_rising_edge_us_ = now;
-    state.count_++;  // NOLINT(clang-diagnostic-deprecated-volatile)
+  if ((now - state.last_sent_edge_us_) >= sensor->filter_us_) {
+    state.last_sent_edge_us_ = now;
+    set.last_detected_edge_us_ = now;
+    set.last_rising_edge_us_ = now;
+    set.count_++;  // NOLINT(clang-diagnostic-deprecated-volatile)
   }
 
   // This ISR is bound to rising edges, so the pin is high
@@ -163,26 +160,26 @@ void IRAM_ATTR PulseMeterSensor::pulse_intr(PulseMeterSensor *sensor) {
   // Get the current time before we do anything else so the measurements are consistent
   const uint32_t now = micros();
   const bool pin_val = sensor->isr_pin_.digital_read();
-  auto &pulse_state = sensor->pulse_state_;
-  auto &state = sensor->state_;
+  auto &state = sensor->pulse_state_;
+  auto &set = *sensor->set_;
 
   // Filter length has passed since the last interrupt
-  const bool length = now - pulse_state.last_intr_ >= sensor->filter_us_;
+  const bool length = now - state.last_intr_ >= sensor->filter_us_;
 
-  if (length && pulse_state.latched_ && !sensor->last_pin_val_) {  // Long enough low edge
-    pulse_state.latched_ = false;
-  } else if (length && !pulse_state.latched_ && sensor->last_pin_val_) {  // Long enough high edge
-    pulse_state.latched_ = true;
-    state.last_detected_edge_us_ = pulse_state.last_intr_;
-    state.count_++;  // NOLINT(clang-diagnostic-deprecated-volatile)
+  if (length && state.latched_ && !sensor->last_pin_val_) {  // Long enough low edge
+    state.latched_ = false;
+  } else if (length && !state.latched_ && sensor->last_pin_val_) {  // Long enough high edge
+    state.latched_ = true;
+    set.last_detected_edge_us_ = state.last_intr_;
+    set.count_++;  // NOLINT(clang-diagnostic-deprecated-volatile)
   }
 
   // Due to order of operations this includes
   //    length && latched && rising   (just reset from a long low edge)
   //    !latched && (rising || high)  (noise on the line resetting the potential rising edge)
-  state.last_rising_edge_us_ = !pulse_state.latched_ && pin_val ? now : state.last_detected_edge_us_;
+  set.last_rising_edge_us_ = !state.latched_ && pin_val ? now : set.last_detected_edge_us_;
 
-  pulse_state.last_intr_ = now;
+  state.last_intr_ = now;
   sensor->last_pin_val_ = pin_val;
 }
 

esphome/components/pulse_meter/pulse_meter_sensor.h

@@ -46,16 +46,17 @@ class PulseMeterSensor : public sensor::Sensor, public Component {
   uint32_t total_pulses_ = 0;
   uint32_t last_processed_edge_us_ = 0;
 
-  // This struct and variable are used to pass data between the ISR and loop.
-  // The data from state_ is read and then count_ in state_ is reset in each loop.
-  // This must be done while guarded by an InterruptLock. Use this variable to send data
-  // from the ISR to the loop not the other way around (except for resetting count_).
+  // This struct (and the two pointers) are used to pass data between the ISR and loop.
+  // These two pointers are exchanged each loop.
+  // Use these to send data from the ISR to the loop not the other way around (except for resetting the values).
   struct State {
     uint32_t last_detected_edge_us_ = 0;
     uint32_t last_rising_edge_us_ = 0;
     uint32_t count_ = 0;
   };
-  volatile State state_{};
+  State state_[2];
+  volatile State *set_ = state_;
+  volatile State *get_ = state_ + 1;
 
   // Only use the following variables in the ISR or while guarded by an InterruptLock
   ISRInternalGPIOPin isr_pin_;

esphome/components/script/__init__.py

@@ -219,7 +219,6 @@ async def script_stop_action_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
     "script.wait",
     ScriptWaitAction,
     maybe_simple_id({cv.Required(CONF_ID): cv.use_id(Script)}),
-    deferred=True,
 )
 async def script_wait_action_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
     full_id, paren = await cg.get_variable_with_full_id(config[CONF_ID])

esphome/components/uart/uart_component_esp_idf.cpp

@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ void IDFUARTComponent::setup() {
     return;
   }
   this->uart_num_ = static_cast<uart_port_t>(next_uart_num++);
+  this->lock_ = xSemaphoreCreateMutex();
 
 #if (SOC_UART_LP_NUM >= 1)
   size_t fifo_len = ((this->uart_num_ < SOC_UART_HP_NUM) ? SOC_UART_FIFO_LEN : SOC_LP_UART_FIFO_LEN);
@@ -101,7 +102,11 @@ void IDFUARTComponent::setup() {
     this->rx_buffer_size_ = fifo_len * 2;
   }
 
+  xSemaphoreTake(this->lock_, portMAX_DELAY);
+
   this->load_settings(false);
+
+  xSemaphoreGive(this->lock_);
 }
 
 void IDFUARTComponent::load_settings(bool dump_config) {
@@ -121,20 +126,13 @@ void IDFUARTComponent::load_settings(bool dump_config) {
       return;
     }
   }
-#ifdef USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX
-  constexpr int event_queue_size = 20;
-  QueueHandle_t *event_queue_ptr = &this->uart_event_queue_;
-#else
-  constexpr int event_queue_size = 0;
-  QueueHandle_t *event_queue_ptr = nullptr;
-#endif
   err = uart_driver_install(this->uart_num_,        // UART number
                             this->rx_buffer_size_,  // RX ring buffer size
-                            0,  // TX ring buffer size. If zero, driver will not use a TX buffer and TX function will
-                                // block task until all data has been sent out
-                            event_queue_size,  // event queue size/depth
-                            event_queue_ptr,   // event queue
-                            0                  // Flags used to allocate the interrupt
+                            0,   // TX ring buffer size. If zero, driver will not use a TX buffer and TX function will
+                                 // block task until all data has been sent out
+                            20,  // event queue size/depth
+                            &this->uart_event_queue_,  // event queue
+                            0                          // Flags used to allocate the interrupt
   );
   if (err != ESP_OK) {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "uart_driver_install failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(err));
@@ -284,7 +282,9 @@ void IDFUARTComponent::set_rx_timeout(size_t rx_timeout) {
 }
 
 void IDFUARTComponent::write_array(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
+  xSemaphoreTake(this->lock_, portMAX_DELAY);
   int32_t write_len = uart_write_bytes(this->uart_num_, data, len);
+  xSemaphoreGive(this->lock_);
   if (write_len != (int32_t) len) {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "uart_write_bytes failed: %d != %zu", write_len, len);
     this->mark_failed();
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ void IDFUARTComponent::write_array(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
 bool IDFUARTComponent::peek_byte(uint8_t *data) {
   if (!this->check_read_timeout_())
     return false;
+  xSemaphoreTake(this->lock_, portMAX_DELAY);
   if (this->has_peek_) {
     *data = this->peek_byte_;
   } else {
@@ -310,6 +311,7 @@ bool IDFUARTComponent::peek_byte(uint8_t *data) {
       this->peek_byte_ = *data;
     }
   }
+  xSemaphoreGive(this->lock_);
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -318,6 +320,7 @@ bool IDFUARTComponent::read_array(uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
   int32_t read_len = 0;
   if (!this->check_read_timeout_(len))
     return false;
+  xSemaphoreTake(this->lock_, portMAX_DELAY);
   if (this->has_peek_) {
     length_to_read--;
     *data = this->peek_byte_;
@@ -326,6 +329,7 @@ bool IDFUARTComponent::read_array(uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
   }
   if (length_to_read > 0)
     read_len = uart_read_bytes(this->uart_num_, data, length_to_read, 20 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS);
+  xSemaphoreGive(this->lock_);
 #ifdef USE_UART_DEBUGGER
   for (size_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
     this->debug_callback_.call(UART_DIRECTION_RX, data[i]);
@@ -338,7 +342,9 @@ size_t IDFUARTComponent::available() {
   size_t available = 0;
   esp_err_t err;
 
+  xSemaphoreTake(this->lock_, portMAX_DELAY);
   err = uart_get_buffered_data_len(this->uart_num_, &available);
+  xSemaphoreGive(this->lock_);
 
   if (err != ESP_OK) {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "uart_get_buffered_data_len failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(err));
@@ -352,7 +358,9 @@ size_t IDFUARTComponent::available() {
 
 void IDFUARTComponent::flush() {
   ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "    Flushing");
+  xSemaphoreTake(this->lock_, portMAX_DELAY);
   uart_wait_tx_done(this->uart_num_, portMAX_DELAY);
+  xSemaphoreGive(this->lock_);
 }
 
 void IDFUARTComponent::check_logger_conflict() {}
@@ -376,13 +384,6 @@ void IDFUARTComponent::start_rx_event_task_() {
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "RX event task started");
 }
 
-// FreeRTOS task that relays UART ISR events to the main loop.
-// This task exists because wake_loop_threadsafe() is not ISR-safe (it uses a
-// UDP loopback socket), so we need a task as an ISR-to-main-loop trampoline.
-// IMPORTANT: This task must NOT call any UART wrapper methods (read_array,
-// write_array, peek_byte, etc.) or touch has_peek_/peek_byte_ — all reading
-// is done by the main loop. This task only reads from the event queue and
-// calls App.wake_loop_threadsafe().
 void IDFUARTComponent::rx_event_task_func(void *param) {
   auto *self = static_cast<IDFUARTComponent *>(param);
   uart_event_t event;
@@ -404,14 +405,8 @@ void IDFUARTComponent::rx_event_task_func(void *param) {
 
         case UART_FIFO_OVF:
         case UART_BUFFER_FULL:
-          // Don't call uart_flush_input() here — this task does not own the read side.
-          // ESP-IDF examples flush on overflow because the same task handles both events
-          // and reads, so flush and read are serialized. Here, reads happen on the main
-          // loop, so flushing from this task races with read_array() and can destroy data
-          // mid-read. The driver self-heals without an explicit flush: uart_read_bytes()
-          // calls uart_check_buf_full() after each chunk, which moves stashed FIFO bytes
-          // into the ring buffer and re-enables RX interrupts once space is freed.
-          ESP_LOGW(TAG, "FIFO overflow or ring buffer full");
+          ESP_LOGW(TAG, "FIFO overflow or ring buffer full - clearing");
+          uart_flush_input(self->uart_num_);
 #if defined(USE_SOCKET_SELECT_SUPPORT) && defined(USE_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE)
           App.wake_loop_threadsafe();
 #endif

esphome/components/uart/uart_component_esp_idf.h

@@ -8,13 +8,6 @@
 
 namespace esphome::uart {
 
-/// ESP-IDF UART driver wrapper.
-///
-/// Thread safety: All public methods must only be called from the main loop.
-/// The ESP-IDF UART driver API does not guarantee thread safety, and ESPHome's
-/// peek byte state (has_peek_/peek_byte_) is not synchronized. The rx_event_task
-/// (when enabled) must not call any of these methods — it communicates with the
-/// main loop exclusively via App.wake_loop_threadsafe().
 class IDFUARTComponent : public UARTComponent, public Component {
  public:
   void setup() override;
@@ -33,9 +26,7 @@ class IDFUARTComponent : public UARTComponent, public Component {
   void flush() override;
 
   uint8_t get_hw_serial_number() { return this->uart_num_; }
-#ifdef USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX
   QueueHandle_t *get_uart_event_queue() { return &this->uart_event_queue_; }
-#endif
 
   /**
    * Load the UART with the current settings.
@@ -55,20 +46,18 @@ class IDFUARTComponent : public UARTComponent, public Component {
  protected:
   void check_logger_conflict() override;
   uart_port_t uart_num_;
+  QueueHandle_t uart_event_queue_;
   uart_config_t get_config_();
+  SemaphoreHandle_t lock_;
 
   bool has_peek_{false};
   uint8_t peek_byte_;
 
 #ifdef USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX
-  // RX notification support — runs on a separate FreeRTOS task.
-  // IMPORTANT: rx_event_task_func must NOT call any UART wrapper methods (read_array,
-  // write_array, etc.) or touch has_peek_/peek_byte_. It must only read from the
-  // event queue and call App.wake_loop_threadsafe().
+  // RX notification support
   void start_rx_event_task_();
   static void rx_event_task_func(void *param);
 
-  QueueHandle_t uart_event_queue_;
   TaskHandle_t rx_event_task_handle_{nullptr};
 #endif  // USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX
 };

esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp

@@ -198,8 +198,7 @@ EntityMatchResult UrlMatch::match_entity(EntityBase *entity) const {
 
 #if !defined(USE_ESP32) && defined(USE_ARDUINO)
 // helper for allowing only unique entries in the queue
-void __attribute__((flatten))
-DeferredUpdateEventSource::deq_push_back_with_dedup_(void *source, message_generator_t *message_generator) {
+void DeferredUpdateEventSource::deq_push_back_with_dedup_(void *source, message_generator_t *message_generator) {
   DeferredEvent item(source, message_generator);
 
   // Use range-based for loop instead of std::find_if to reduce template instantiation overhead and binary size
@@ -558,9 +557,7 @@ static void set_json_id(JsonObject &root, EntityBase *obj, const char *prefix, J
       root[ESPHOME_F("device")] = device_name;
     }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
     root[ESPHOME_F("icon")] = obj->get_icon_ref();
-#endif
     root[ESPHOME_F("entity_category")] = obj->get_entity_category();
     bool is_disabled = obj->is_disabled_by_default();
     if (is_disabled)
@@ -586,7 +583,8 @@ static void set_json_icon_state_value(JsonObject &root, EntityBase *obj, const c
 
 // Helper to get request detail parameter
 static JsonDetail get_request_detail(AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {
-  return request->arg(ESPHOME_F("detail")) == "all" ? DETAIL_ALL : DETAIL_STATE;
+  auto *param = request->getParam(ESPHOME_F("detail"));
+  return (param && param->value() == "all") ? DETAIL_ALL : DETAIL_STATE;
 }
 
 #ifdef USE_SENSOR
@@ -863,10 +861,10 @@ void WebServer::handle_fan_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const UrlMatc
       }
       auto call = is_on ? obj->turn_on() : obj->turn_off();
 
-      parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("speed_level"), call, &decltype(call)::set_speed);
+      parse_int_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("speed_level"), call, &decltype(call)::set_speed);
 
-      if (request->hasArg(ESPHOME_F("oscillation"))) {
-        auto speed = request->arg(ESPHOME_F("oscillation"));
+      if (request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("oscillation"))) {
+        auto speed = request->getParam(ESPHOME_F("oscillation"))->value();
         auto val = parse_on_off(speed.c_str());
         switch (val) {
           case PARSE_ON:
@@ -1042,14 +1040,14 @@ void WebServer::handle_cover_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const UrlMa
     }
 
     auto traits = obj->get_traits();
-    if ((request->hasArg(ESPHOME_F("position")) && !traits.get_supports_position()) ||
-        (request->hasArg(ESPHOME_F("tilt")) && !traits.get_supports_tilt())) {
+    if ((request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("position")) && !traits.get_supports_position()) ||
+        (request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("tilt")) && !traits.get_supports_tilt())) {
       request->send(409);
       return;
     }
 
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("position"), call, &decltype(call)::set_position);
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("tilt"), call, &decltype(call)::set_tilt);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("position"), call, &decltype(call)::set_position);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("tilt"), call, &decltype(call)::set_tilt);
 
     DEFER_ACTION(call, call.perform());
     request->send(200);
@@ -1108,7 +1106,7 @@ void WebServer::handle_number_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const UrlM
     }
 
     auto call = obj->make_call();
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("value"), call, &decltype(call)::set_value);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("value"), call, &decltype(call)::set_value);
 
     DEFER_ACTION(call, call.perform());
     request->send(200);
@@ -1176,13 +1174,12 @@ void WebServer::handle_date_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const UrlMat
 
     auto call = obj->make_call();
 
-    const auto &value = request->arg(ESPHOME_F("value"));
-    // Arduino String has isEmpty() not empty(), use length() for cross-platform compatibility
-    if (value.length() == 0) {  // NOLINT(readability-container-size-empty)
+    if (!request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("value"))) {
       request->send(409);
       return;
     }
-    call.set_date(value.c_str(), value.length());
+
+    parse_string_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("value"), call, &decltype(call)::set_date);
 
     DEFER_ACTION(call, call.perform());
     request->send(200);
@@ -1237,13 +1234,12 @@ void WebServer::handle_time_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const UrlMat
 
     auto call = obj->make_call();
 
-    const auto &value = request->arg(ESPHOME_F("value"));
-    // Arduino String has isEmpty() not empty(), use length() for cross-platform compatibility
-    if (value.length() == 0) {  // NOLINT(readability-container-size-empty)
+    if (!request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("value"))) {
       request->send(409);
       return;
     }
-    call.set_time(value.c_str(), value.length());
+
+    parse_string_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("value"), call, &decltype(call)::set_time);
 
     DEFER_ACTION(call, call.perform());
     request->send(200);
@@ -1297,13 +1293,12 @@ void WebServer::handle_datetime_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const Ur
 
     auto call = obj->make_call();
 
-    const auto &value = request->arg(ESPHOME_F("value"));
-    // Arduino String has isEmpty() not empty(), use length() for cross-platform compatibility
-    if (value.length() == 0) {  // NOLINT(readability-container-size-empty)
+    if (!request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("value"))) {
       request->send(409);
       return;
     }
-    call.set_datetime(value.c_str(), value.length());
+
+    parse_string_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("value"), call, &decltype(call)::set_datetime);
 
     DEFER_ACTION(call, call.perform());
     request->send(200);
@@ -1482,14 +1477,10 @@ void WebServer::handle_climate_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const Url
     parse_string_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("swing_mode"), call, &decltype(call)::set_swing_mode);
 
     // Parse temperature parameters
-    // static_cast needed to disambiguate overloaded setters (float vs optional<float>)
-    using ClimateCall = decltype(call);
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature_high"), call,
-                     static_cast<ClimateCall &(ClimateCall::*) (float)>(&ClimateCall::set_target_temperature_high));
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature_low"), call,
-                     static_cast<ClimateCall &(ClimateCall::*) (float)>(&ClimateCall::set_target_temperature_low));
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature"), call,
-                     static_cast<ClimateCall &(ClimateCall::*) (float)>(&ClimateCall::set_target_temperature));
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature_high"), call,
+                       &decltype(call)::set_target_temperature_high);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature_low"), call, &decltype(call)::set_target_temperature_low);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature"), call, &decltype(call)::set_target_temperature);
 
     DEFER_ACTION(call, call.perform());
     request->send(200);
@@ -1730,12 +1721,12 @@ void WebServer::handle_valve_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const UrlMa
     }
 
     auto traits = obj->get_traits();
-    if (request->hasArg(ESPHOME_F("position")) && !traits.get_supports_position()) {
+    if (request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("position")) && !traits.get_supports_position()) {
       request->send(409);
       return;
     }
 
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("position"), call, &decltype(call)::set_position);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("position"), call, &decltype(call)::set_position);
 
     DEFER_ACTION(call, call.perform());
     request->send(200);
@@ -1879,12 +1870,12 @@ void WebServer::handle_water_heater_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, cons
     parse_string_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("mode"), base_call, &water_heater::WaterHeaterCall::set_mode);
 
     // Parse temperature parameters
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature"), base_call,
-                     &water_heater::WaterHeaterCall::set_target_temperature);
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature_low"), base_call,
-                     &water_heater::WaterHeaterCall::set_target_temperature_low);
-    parse_num_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature_high"), base_call,
-                     &water_heater::WaterHeaterCall::set_target_temperature_high);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature"), base_call,
+                       &water_heater::WaterHeaterCall::set_target_temperature);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature_low"), base_call,
+                       &water_heater::WaterHeaterCall::set_target_temperature_low);
+    parse_float_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("target_temperature_high"), base_call,
+                       &water_heater::WaterHeaterCall::set_target_temperature_high);
 
     // Parse away mode parameter
     parse_bool_param_(request, ESPHOME_F("away"), base_call, &water_heater::WaterHeaterCall::set_away);
@@ -1988,16 +1979,16 @@ void WebServer::handle_infrared_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const Ur
     auto call = obj->make_call();
 
     // Parse carrier frequency (optional)
-    {
-      auto value = parse_number<uint32_t>(request->arg(ESPHOME_F("carrier_frequency")).c_str());
+    if (request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("carrier_frequency"))) {
+      auto value = parse_number<uint32_t>(request->getParam(ESPHOME_F("carrier_frequency"))->value().c_str());
       if (value.has_value()) {
         call.set_carrier_frequency(*value);
       }
     }
 
     // Parse repeat count (optional, defaults to 1)
-    {
-      auto value = parse_number<uint32_t>(request->arg(ESPHOME_F("repeat_count")).c_str());
+    if (request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("repeat_count"))) {
+      auto value = parse_number<uint32_t>(request->getParam(ESPHOME_F("repeat_count"))->value().c_str());
       if (value.has_value()) {
         call.set_repeat_count(*value);
       }
@@ -2005,12 +1996,18 @@ void WebServer::handle_infrared_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const Ur
 
     // Parse base64url-encoded raw timings (required)
     // Base64url is URL-safe: uses A-Za-z0-9-_ (no special characters needing escaping)
-    const auto &data_arg = request->arg(ESPHOME_F("data"));
+    if (!request->hasParam(ESPHOME_F("data"))) {
+      request->send(400, ESPHOME_F("text/plain"), ESPHOME_F("Missing 'data' parameter"));
+      return;
+    }
 
-    // Validate base64url is not empty (also catches missing parameter since arg() returns empty string)
-    // Arduino String has isEmpty() not empty(), use length() for cross-platform compatibility
-    if (data_arg.length() == 0) {  // NOLINT(readability-container-size-empty)
-      request->send(400, ESPHOME_F("text/plain"), ESPHOME_F("Missing or empty 'data' parameter"));
+    // .c_str() is required for Arduino framework where value() returns Arduino String instead of std::string
+    std::string encoded =
+        request->getParam(ESPHOME_F("data"))->value().c_str();  // NOLINT(readability-redundant-string-cstr)
+
+    // Validate base64url is not empty
+    if (encoded.empty()) {
+      request->send(400, ESPHOME_F("text/plain"), ESPHOME_F("Empty 'data' parameter"));
       return;
     }
 
@@ -2018,7 +2015,7 @@ void WebServer::handle_infrared_request(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const Ur
     // it outlives the call - set_raw_timings_base64url stores a pointer, so the string
     // must remain valid until perform() completes.
     // ESP8266 also needs this because ESPAsyncWebServer callbacks run in "sys" context.
-    this->defer([call, encoded = std::string(data_arg.c_str(), data_arg.length())]() mutable {
+    this->defer([call, encoded = std::move(encoded)]() mutable {
       call.set_raw_timings_base64url(encoded);
       call.perform();
     });

esphome/components/web_server/web_server.h

@@ -513,9 +513,11 @@ class WebServer : public Controller,
   template<typename T, typename Ret>
   void parse_light_param_(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, ParamNameType param_name, T &call, Ret (T::*setter)(float),
                           float scale = 1.0f) {
-    auto value = parse_number<float>(request->arg(param_name).c_str());
-    if (value.has_value()) {
-      (call.*setter)(*value / scale);
+    if (request->hasParam(param_name)) {
+      auto value = parse_number<float>(request->getParam(param_name)->value().c_str());
+      if (value.has_value()) {
+        (call.*setter)(*value / scale);
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -523,19 +525,34 @@ class WebServer : public Controller,
   template<typename T, typename Ret>
   void parse_light_param_uint_(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, ParamNameType param_name, T &call,
                                Ret (T::*setter)(uint32_t), uint32_t scale = 1) {
-    auto value = parse_number<uint32_t>(request->arg(param_name).c_str());
-    if (value.has_value()) {
-      (call.*setter)(*value * scale);
+    if (request->hasParam(param_name)) {
+      auto value = parse_number<uint32_t>(request->getParam(param_name)->value().c_str());
+      if (value.has_value()) {
+        (call.*setter)(*value * scale);
+      }
     }
   }
 #endif
 
-  // Generic helper to parse and apply a numeric parameter
-  template<typename NumT, typename T, typename Ret>
-  void parse_num_param_(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, ParamNameType param_name, T &call, Ret (T::*setter)(NumT)) {
-    auto value = parse_number<NumT>(request->arg(param_name).c_str());
-    if (value.has_value()) {
-      (call.*setter)(*value);
+  // Generic helper to parse and apply a float parameter
+  template<typename T, typename Ret>
+  void parse_float_param_(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, ParamNameType param_name, T &call, Ret (T::*setter)(float)) {
+    if (request->hasParam(param_name)) {
+      auto value = parse_number<float>(request->getParam(param_name)->value().c_str());
+      if (value.has_value()) {
+        (call.*setter)(*value);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Generic helper to parse and apply an int parameter
+  template<typename T, typename Ret>
+  void parse_int_param_(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, ParamNameType param_name, T &call, Ret (T::*setter)(int)) {
+    if (request->hasParam(param_name)) {
+      auto value = parse_number<int>(request->getParam(param_name)->value().c_str());
+      if (value.has_value()) {
+        (call.*setter)(*value);
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -543,9 +560,10 @@ class WebServer : public Controller,
   template<typename T, typename Ret>
   void parse_string_param_(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, ParamNameType param_name, T &call,
                            Ret (T::*setter)(const std::string &)) {
-    if (request->hasArg(param_name)) {
-      const auto &value = request->arg(param_name);
-      (call.*setter)(std::string(value.c_str(), value.length()));
+    if (request->hasParam(param_name)) {
+      // .c_str() is required for Arduino framework where value() returns Arduino String instead of std::string
+      std::string value = request->getParam(param_name)->value().c_str();  // NOLINT(readability-redundant-string-cstr)
+      (call.*setter)(value);
     }
   }
 
@@ -555,9 +573,8 @@ class WebServer : public Controller,
   // Invalid values are ignored (setter not called)
   template<typename T, typename Ret>
   void parse_bool_param_(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, ParamNameType param_name, T &call, Ret (T::*setter)(bool)) {
-    const auto &param_value = request->arg(param_name);
-    // Arduino String has isEmpty() not empty(), use length() for cross-platform compatibility
-    if (param_value.length() > 0) {  // NOLINT(readability-container-size-empty)
+    if (request->hasParam(param_name)) {
+      auto param_value = request->getParam(param_name)->value();
       // First check on/off (default), then true/false (custom)
       auto val = parse_on_off(param_value.c_str());
       if (val == PARSE_NONE) {

esphome/components/web_server_idf/utils.cpp

@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
+#include <memory>
 #include <cstring>
 #include <cctype>
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
+#include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "http_parser.h"
 
 #include "utils.h"
 
 namespace esphome::web_server_idf {
 
+static const char *const TAG = "web_server_idf_utils";
+
 size_t url_decode(char *str) {
   char *start = str;
   char *ptr = str, buf;
@@ -50,15 +54,32 @@ optional<std::string> request_get_header(httpd_req_t *req, const char *name) {
   return {str};
 }
 
+optional<std::string> request_get_url_query(httpd_req_t *req) {
+  auto len = httpd_req_get_url_query_len(req);
+  if (len == 0) {
+    return {};
+  }
+
+  std::string str;
+  str.resize(len);
+
+  auto res = httpd_req_get_url_query_str(req, &str[0], len + 1);
+  if (res != ESP_OK) {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Can't get query for request: %s", esp_err_to_name(res));
+    return {};
+  }
+
+  return {str};
+}
+
 optional<std::string> query_key_value(const char *query_url, size_t query_len, const char *key) {
   if (query_url == nullptr || query_len == 0) {
     return {};
   }
 
-  // Value can't exceed query_len. Use small stack buffer for typical values,
-  // heap fallback for long ones (e.g. base64 IR data) to limit stack usage
-  // since callers may also have stack buffers for the query string.
-  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<128, char> val(query_len);
+  // Use stack buffer for typical query strings, heap fallback for large ones
+  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<256, char> val(query_len);
+
   if (httpd_query_key_value(query_url, key, val.get(), query_len) != ESP_OK) {
     return {};
   }
@@ -67,18 +88,6 @@ optional<std::string> query_key_value(const char *query_url, size_t query_len, c
   return {val.get()};
 }
 
-bool query_has_key(const char *query_url, size_t query_len, const char *key) {
-  if (query_url == nullptr || query_len == 0) {
-    return false;
-  }
-  // Minimal buffer — we only care if the key exists, not the value
-  char buf[1];
-  // httpd_query_key_value returns ESP_OK if found, ESP_ERR_HTTPD_RESULT_TRUNC if found
-  // but value truncated (expected with 1-byte buffer), or other errors for invalid input
-  auto err = httpd_query_key_value(query_url, key, buf, sizeof(buf));
-  return err == ESP_OK || err == ESP_ERR_HTTPD_RESULT_TRUNC;
-}
-
 // Helper function for case-insensitive string region comparison
 bool str_ncmp_ci(const char *s1, const char *s2, size_t n) {
   for (size_t i = 0; i < n; i++) {

esphome/components/web_server_idf/utils.h

@@ -13,8 +13,11 @@ size_t url_decode(char *str);
 
 bool request_has_header(httpd_req_t *req, const char *name);
 optional<std::string> request_get_header(httpd_req_t *req, const char *name);
+optional<std::string> request_get_url_query(httpd_req_t *req);
 optional<std::string> query_key_value(const char *query_url, size_t query_len, const char *key);
-bool query_has_key(const char *query_url, size_t query_len, const char *key);
+inline optional<std::string> query_key_value(const std::string &query_url, const std::string &key) {
+  return query_key_value(query_url.c_str(), query_url.size(), key.c_str());
+}
 
 // Helper function for case-insensitive character comparison
 inline bool char_equals_ci(char a, char b) { return ::tolower(a) == ::tolower(b); }

esphome/components/web_server_idf/web_server_idf.cpp

@@ -393,7 +393,13 @@ AsyncWebParameter *AsyncWebServerRequest::getParam(const char *name) {
   }
 
   // Look up value from query strings
-  auto val = this->find_query_value_(name);
+  optional<std::string> val = query_key_value(this->post_query_.c_str(), this->post_query_.size(), name);
+  if (!val.has_value()) {
+    auto url_query = request_get_url_query(*this);
+    if (url_query.has_value()) {
+      val = query_key_value(url_query.value().c_str(), url_query.value().size(), name);
+    }
+  }
 
   // Don't cache misses to avoid wasting memory when handlers check for
   // optional parameters that don't exist in the request
@@ -406,50 +412,6 @@ AsyncWebParameter *AsyncWebServerRequest::getParam(const char *name) {
   return param;
 }
 
-/// Search post_query then URL query with a callback.
-/// Returns first truthy result, or value-initialized default.
-/// URL query is accessed directly from req->uri (same pattern as url_to()).
-template<typename Func>
-static auto search_query_sources(httpd_req_t *req, const std::string &post_query, const char *name, Func func)
-    -> decltype(func(nullptr, size_t{0}, name)) {
-  if (!post_query.empty()) {
-    auto result = func(post_query.c_str(), post_query.size(), name);
-    if (result) {
-      return result;
-    }
-  }
-  // Use httpd API for query length, then access string directly from URI.
-  // http_parser identifies components by offset/length without modifying the URI string.
-  // This is the same pattern used by url_to().
-  auto len = httpd_req_get_url_query_len(req);
-  if (len == 0) {
-    return {};
-  }
-  const char *query = strchr(req->uri, '?');
-  if (query == nullptr) {
-    return {};
-  }
-  query++;  // skip '?'
-  return func(query, len, name);
-}
-
-optional<std::string> AsyncWebServerRequest::find_query_value_(const char *name) const {
-  return search_query_sources(this->req_, this->post_query_, name,
-                              [](const char *q, size_t len, const char *k) { return query_key_value(q, len, k); });
-}
-
-bool AsyncWebServerRequest::hasArg(const char *name) {
-  return search_query_sources(this->req_, this->post_query_, name, query_has_key);
-}
-
-std::string AsyncWebServerRequest::arg(const char *name) {
-  auto val = this->find_query_value_(name);
-  if (val.has_value()) {
-    return std::move(val.value());
-  }
-  return {};
-}
-
 void AsyncWebServerResponse::addHeader(const char *name, const char *value) {
   httpd_resp_set_hdr(*this->req_, name, value);
 }

esphome/components/web_server_idf/web_server_idf.h

@@ -116,8 +116,7 @@ class AsyncWebServerRequest {
   /// Write URL (without query string) to buffer, returns StringRef pointing to buffer.
   /// URL is decoded (e.g., %20 -> space).
   StringRef url_to(std::span<char, URL_BUF_SIZE> buffer) const;
-  // Remove before 2026.9.0
-  ESPDEPRECATED("Use url_to() instead. Removed in 2026.9.0", "2026.3.0")
+  /// Get URL as std::string. Prefer url_to() to avoid heap allocation.
   std::string url() const {
     char buffer[URL_BUF_SIZE];
     return std::string(this->url_to(buffer));
@@ -171,8 +170,14 @@ class AsyncWebServerRequest {
   AsyncWebParameter *getParam(const std::string &name) { return this->getParam(name.c_str()); }
 
   // NOLINTNEXTLINE(readability-identifier-naming)
-  bool hasArg(const char *name);
-  std::string arg(const char *name);
+  bool hasArg(const char *name) { return this->hasParam(name); }
+  std::string arg(const char *name) {
+    auto *param = this->getParam(name);
+    if (param) {
+      return param->value();
+    }
+    return {};
+  }
   std::string arg(const std::string &name) { return this->arg(name.c_str()); }
 
   operator httpd_req_t *() const { return this->req_; }
@@ -187,7 +192,6 @@ class AsyncWebServerRequest {
   // is faster than tree/hash overhead. AsyncWebParameter stores both name and value to avoid
   // duplicate storage. Only successful lookups are cached to prevent cache pollution when
   // handlers check for optional parameters that don't exist.
-  optional<std::string> find_query_value_(const char *name) const;
   std::vector<AsyncWebParameter *> params_;
   std::string post_query_;
   AsyncWebServerRequest(httpd_req_t *req) : req_(req) {}

esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp

@@ -487,19 +487,6 @@ bool WiFiComponent::matches_configured_network_(const char *ssid, const uint8_t
   return false;
 }
 
-void __attribute__((flatten)) WiFiComponent::set_sta_priority(bssid_t bssid, int8_t priority) {
-  for (auto &it : this->sta_priorities_) {
-    if (it.bssid == bssid) {
-      it.priority = priority;
-      return;
-    }
-  }
-  this->sta_priorities_.push_back(WiFiSTAPriority{
-      .bssid = bssid,
-      .priority = priority,
-  });
-}
-
 void WiFiComponent::log_discarded_scan_result_(const char *ssid, const uint8_t *bssid, int8_t rssi, uint8_t channel) {
 #if ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL >= ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL_VERBOSE
   // Skip logging during roaming scans to avoid log buffer overflow

esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h

@@ -488,11 +488,20 @@ class WiFiComponent : public Component {
     }
     return 0;
   }
-  void set_sta_priority(bssid_t bssid, int8_t priority);
+  void set_sta_priority(const bssid_t bssid, int8_t priority) {
+    for (auto &it : this->sta_priorities_) {
+      if (it.bssid == bssid) {
+        it.priority = priority;
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+    this->sta_priorities_.push_back(WiFiSTAPriority{
+        .bssid = bssid,
+        .priority = priority,
+    });
+  }
 
   network::IPAddresses wifi_sta_ip_addresses();
-  // Remove before 2026.9.0
-  ESPDEPRECATED("Use wifi_ssid_to() instead. Removed in 2026.9.0", "2026.3.0")
   std::string wifi_ssid();
   /// Write SSID to buffer without heap allocation.
   /// Returns pointer to buffer, or empty string if not connected.

esphome/core/helpers.h

@@ -1083,9 +1083,6 @@ template<std::size_t N> std::string format_hex(const std::array<uint8_t, N> &dat
  * Each byte is displayed as a two-digit uppercase hex value, separated by the specified separator.
  * Optionally includes the total byte count in parentheses at the end.
  *
- * @warning Allocates heap memory. Use format_hex_pretty_to() with a stack buffer instead.
- * Causes heap fragmentation on long-running devices.
- *
  * @param data Pointer to the byte array to format.
  * @param length Number of bytes in the array.
  * @param separator Character to use between hex bytes (default: '.').
@@ -1111,9 +1108,6 @@ std::string format_hex_pretty(const uint8_t *data, size_t length, char separator
  *
  * Similar to the byte array version, but formats 16-bit words as 4-digit hex values.
  *
- * @warning Allocates heap memory. Use format_hex_pretty_to() with a stack buffer instead.
- * Causes heap fragmentation on long-running devices.
- *
  * @param data Pointer to the 16-bit word array to format.
  * @param length Number of 16-bit words in the array.
  * @param separator Character to use between hex words (default: '.').
@@ -1137,9 +1131,6 @@ std::string format_hex_pretty(const uint16_t *data, size_t length, char separato
  * Convenience overload for std::vector<uint8_t>. Formats each byte as a two-digit
  * uppercase hex value with customizable separator.
  *
- * @warning Allocates heap memory. Use format_hex_pretty_to() with a stack buffer instead.
- * Causes heap fragmentation on long-running devices.
- *
  * @param data Vector of bytes to format.
  * @param separator Character to use between hex bytes (default: '.').
  * @param show_length Whether to append the byte count in parentheses (default: true).
@@ -1163,9 +1154,6 @@ std::string format_hex_pretty(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data, char separator =
  * Convenience overload for std::vector<uint16_t>. Each 16-bit word is formatted
  * as a 4-digit uppercase hex value in big-endian order.
  *
- * @warning Allocates heap memory. Use format_hex_pretty_to() with a stack buffer instead.
- * Causes heap fragmentation on long-running devices.
- *
  * @param data Vector of 16-bit words to format.
  * @param separator Character to use between hex words (default: '.').
  * @param show_length Whether to append the word count in parentheses (default: true).
@@ -1188,9 +1176,6 @@ std::string format_hex_pretty(const std::vector<uint16_t> &data, char separator
  * Treats each character in the string as a byte and formats it in hex.
  * Useful for debugging binary data stored in std::string containers.
  *
- * @warning Allocates heap memory. Use format_hex_pretty_to() with a stack buffer instead.
- * Causes heap fragmentation on long-running devices.
- *
  * @param data String whose bytes should be formatted as hex.
  * @param separator Character to use between hex bytes (default: '.').
  * @param show_length Whether to append the byte count in parentheses (default: true).
@@ -1213,9 +1198,6 @@ std::string format_hex_pretty(const std::string &data, char separator = '.', boo
  * Converts the integer to big-endian byte order and formats each byte as hex.
  * The most significant byte appears first in the output string.
  *
- * @warning Allocates heap memory. Use format_hex_pretty_to() with a stack buffer instead.
- * Causes heap fragmentation on long-running devices.
- *
  * @tparam T Unsigned integer type (uint8_t, uint16_t, uint32_t, uint64_t, etc.).
  * @param val The unsigned integer value to format.
  * @param separator Character to use between hex bytes (default: '.').

esphome/core/string_ref.h

@@ -81,19 +81,6 @@ class StringRef {
 
   operator std::string() const { return str(); }
 
-  /// Compare with a null-terminated C string (compatible with std::string::compare)
-  int compare(const char *s) const {
-    size_t s_len = std::strlen(s);
-    int result = std::memcmp(base_, s, std::min(len_, s_len));
-    if (result != 0)
-      return result;
-    if (len_ < s_len)
-      return -1;
-    if (len_ > s_len)
-      return 1;
-    return 0;
-  }
-
   /// Find first occurrence of substring, returns std::string::npos if not found.
   /// Note: Requires the underlying string to be null-terminated.
   size_type find(const char *s, size_type pos = 0) const {

esphome/util.py

@@ -24,14 +24,11 @@ class RegistryEntry:
         fun: Callable[..., Any],
         type_id: "MockObjClass",
         schema: "Schema",
-        *,
-        deferred: bool = False,
     ):
         self.name = name
         self.fun = fun
         self.type_id = type_id
         self.raw_schema = schema
-        self.deferred = deferred
 
     @property
     def coroutine_fun(self):
@@ -52,16 +49,9 @@ class Registry(dict[str, RegistryEntry]):
         self.base_schema = base_schema or {}
         self.type_id_key = type_id_key
 
-    def register(
-        self,
-        name: str,
-        type_id: "MockObjClass",
-        schema: "Schema",
-        *,
-        deferred: bool = False,
-    ):
+    def register(self, name: str, type_id: "MockObjClass", schema: "Schema"):
         def decorator(fun: Callable[..., Any]):
-            self[name] = RegistryEntry(name, fun, type_id, schema, deferred=deferred)
+            self[name] = RegistryEntry(name, fun, type_id, schema)
             return fun
 
         return decorator

platformio.ini

@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ extends = common:arduino
 platform = https://github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32/releases/download/55.03.37/platform-espressif32.zip
 platform_packages =
     pioarduino/framework-arduinoespressif32@https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/releases/download/3.3.7/esp32-core-3.3.7.tar.xz
-    pioarduino/framework-espidf@https://github.com/pioarduino/esp-idf/releases/download/v5.5.2/esp-idf-v5.5.2.tar.xz
+    pioarduino/framework-espidf@https://github.com/pioarduino/esp-idf/releases/download/v5.5.2.260206/esp-idf-v5.5.2.tar.xz
 
 framework = arduino, espidf  ; Arduino as an ESP-IDF component
 lib_deps =
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ extra_scripts = post:esphome/components/esp32/post_build.py.script
 extends = common:idf
 platform = https://github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32/releases/download/55.03.37/platform-espressif32.zip
 platform_packages =
-    pioarduino/framework-espidf@https://github.com/pioarduino/esp-idf/releases/download/v5.5.2/esp-idf-v5.5.2.tar.xz
+    pioarduino/framework-espidf@https://github.com/pioarduino/esp-idf/releases/download/v5.5.2.260206/esp-idf-v5.5.2.tar.xz
 
 framework = espidf
 lib_deps =

script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py

@@ -2020,8 +2020,6 @@ def build_message_type(
 
     # Collect fixed_vector fields for custom decode generation
     fixed_vector_fields = []
-    # Collect fields with (null_terminate) = true option
-    null_terminate_fields = []
 
     for field in desc.field:
         # Skip deprecated fields completely
@@ -2064,10 +2062,6 @@ def build_message_type(
 
         ti = create_field_type_info(field, needs_decode, needs_encode)
 
-        # Collect fields with (null_terminate) = true for post-decode null-termination
-        if needs_decode and get_field_opt(field, pb.null_terminate, False):
-            null_terminate_fields.append(ti.field_name)
-
         # Skip field declarations for fields that are in the base class
         # but include their encode/decode logic
         if field.name not in common_field_names:
@@ -2174,8 +2168,8 @@ def build_message_type(
         prot = "bool decode_64bit(uint32_t field_id, Proto64Bit value) override;"
         protected_content.insert(0, prot)
 
-    # Generate custom decode() override for messages with FixedVector or null_terminate fields
-    if fixed_vector_fields or null_terminate_fields:
+    # Generate custom decode() override for messages with FixedVector fields
+    if fixed_vector_fields:
         # Generate the decode() implementation in cpp
         o = f"void {desc.name}::decode(const uint8_t *buffer, size_t length) {{\n"
         # Count and init each FixedVector field
@@ -2184,13 +2178,6 @@ def build_message_type(
             o += f"  this->{field_name}.init(count_{field_name});\n"
         # Call parent decode to populate the fields
         o += "  ProtoDecodableMessage::decode(buffer, length);\n"
-        # Null-terminate fields marked with (null_terminate) = true in-place.
-        # Safe: decode is complete, byte after string was already parsed (next field tag)
-        # or is the +1 reserved byte at end of rx_buf_.
-        for field_name in null_terminate_fields:
-            o += f"  if (!this->{field_name}.empty()) {{\n"
-            o += f"    const_cast<char *>(this->{field_name}.c_str())[this->{field_name}.size()] = '\\0';\n"
-            o += "  }\n"
         o += "}\n"
         cpp += o
         # Generate the decode() declaration in header (public method)

script/build_language_schema.py

@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ def get_logger_tags():
         "api.service",
     ]
     for file in CORE_COMPONENTS_PATH.rglob("*.cpp"):
-        data = file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        data = file.read_text()
         match = pattern.search(data)
         if match:
             tags.append(match.group(1))

tests/integration/test_alarm_control_panel_state_transitions.py

@@ -270,14 +270,6 @@ async def test_alarm_control_panel_state_transitions(
         # The chime_sensor has chime: true, so opening it while disarmed
         # should trigger on_chime callback
 
-        # Set up future for the on_ready from opening the chime sensor
-        # (alarm becomes "not ready" when chime sensor opens).
-        # We must wait for this BEFORE creating the close future, otherwise
-        # the open event's log can arrive late and resolve the close future,
-        # causing the test to proceed before the chime close is processed.
-        ready_after_chime_open: asyncio.Future[bool] = loop.create_future()
-        ready_futures.append(ready_after_chime_open)
-
         # We're currently DISARMED - open the chime sensor
         client.switch_command(chime_switch_info.key, True)
 
@@ -287,18 +279,11 @@ async def test_alarm_control_panel_state_transitions(
         except TimeoutError:
             pytest.fail(f"on_chime callback not fired. Log lines: {log_lines[-20:]}")
 
-        # Wait for the on_ready from the chime sensor opening
-        try:
-            await asyncio.wait_for(ready_after_chime_open, timeout=2.0)
-        except TimeoutError:
-            pytest.fail(
-                f"on_ready callback not fired when chime sensor opened. "
-                f"Log lines: {log_lines[-20:]}"
-            )
-
-        # Now create the future for the close event and close the sensor.
-        # Since we waited for the open event above, the close event's
-        # on_ready log cannot be confused with the open event's.
+        # Close the chime sensor and wait for alarm to become ready again
+        # We need to wait for this transition before testing door sensor,
+        # otherwise there's a race where the door sensor state change could
+        # arrive before the chime sensor state change, leaving the alarm in
+        # a continuous "not ready" state with no on_ready callback fired.
         ready_after_chime_close: asyncio.Future[bool] = loop.create_future()
         ready_futures.append(ready_after_chime_close)