diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b3013e09a2..d96c83323c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ Updates should follow the [Keep a CHANGELOG](https://keepachangelog.com/) princi
 
 ## [Unreleased][unreleased]
 
+### Changed
+- Promoted the `delim` status on `Text` nodes to a first-class property (`$isDelimiter`) instead of storing it in the `$data` array (#963).
+    - This improves performance in the inline parser engine.
+    - **Breaking Change:** The `$isDelimiter` property on `Text` nodes is now public. The `isDelimiter()` and `setDelimiter()` methods have been removed. Accessing this status via `$text->data['delim']` is no longer supported. You must now access the public `$text->isDelimiter` property directly.
+
 ## [2.8.0] - 2025-11-26
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/Delimiter/DelimiterParser.php b/src/Delimiter/DelimiterParser.php
index fdfe093c90..edffb2f239 100644
--- a/src/Delimiter/DelimiterParser.php
+++ b/src/Delimiter/DelimiterParser.php
@@ -68,9 +68,8 @@ public function parse(InlineParserContext $inlineContext): bool
             return true;
         }
 
-        $node = new Text(\str_repeat($character, $numDelims), [
-            'delim' => true,
-        ]);
+        $node              = new Text(\str_repeat($character, $numDelims));
+        $node->isDelimiter = true;
         $inlineContext->getContainer()->appendChild($node);
 
         // Add entry to stack to this opener
diff --git a/src/Extension/CommonMark/Parser/Inline/BangParser.php b/src/Extension/CommonMark/Parser/Inline/BangParser.php
index cbf6ca3828..f7b14f99eb 100644
--- a/src/Extension/CommonMark/Parser/Inline/BangParser.php
+++ b/src/Extension/CommonMark/Parser/Inline/BangParser.php
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ public function parse(InlineParserContext $inlineContext): bool
         $cursor = $inlineContext->getCursor();
         $cursor->advanceBy(2);
 
-        $node = new Text('![', ['delim' => true]);
+        $node              = new Text('![');
+        $node->isDelimiter = true;
         $inlineContext->getContainer()->appendChild($node);
 
         // Add entry to stack for this opener
diff --git a/src/Extension/CommonMark/Parser/Inline/OpenBracketParser.php b/src/Extension/CommonMark/Parser/Inline/OpenBracketParser.php
index 1ba8c133ab..e207ee9141 100644
--- a/src/Extension/CommonMark/Parser/Inline/OpenBracketParser.php
+++ b/src/Extension/CommonMark/Parser/Inline/OpenBracketParser.php
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ public function getMatchDefinition(): InlineParserMatch
     public function parse(InlineParserContext $inlineContext): bool
     {
         $inlineContext->getCursor()->advanceBy(1);
-        $node = new Text('[', ['delim' => true]);
+        $node              = new Text('[');
+        $node->isDelimiter = true;
         $inlineContext->getContainer()->appendChild($node);
 
         // Add entry to stack for this opener
diff --git a/src/Extension/SmartPunct/QuoteParser.php b/src/Extension/SmartPunct/QuoteParser.php
index 31ba8c7738..c5f5235728 100644
--- a/src/Extension/SmartPunct/QuoteParser.php
+++ b/src/Extension/SmartPunct/QuoteParser.php
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public function parse(InlineParserContext $inlineContext): bool
         $canOpen                        = $leftFlanking && ! $rightFlanking;
         $canClose                       = $rightFlanking;
 
-        $node = new Quote($char, ['delim' => true]);
+        $node = new Quote($char);
         $inlineContext->getContainer()->appendChild($node);
 
         // Add entry to stack to this opener
diff --git a/src/Node/Inline/Text.php b/src/Node/Inline/Text.php
index 31387f918d..68e712978c 100644
--- a/src/Node/Inline/Text.php
+++ b/src/Node/Inline/Text.php
@@ -18,6 +18,17 @@
 
 final class Text extends AbstractStringContainer
 {
+    public bool $isDelimiter = false;
+
+    /**
+     * @param string               $contents The text contents
+     * @param array<string, mixed> $data     Arbitrary data
+     */
+    public function __construct(string $contents = '', array $data = [])
+    {
+        parent::__construct($contents, $data);
+    }
+
     public function append(string $literal): void
     {
         $this->literal .= $literal;
diff --git a/src/Parser/InlineParserEngine.php b/src/Parser/InlineParserEngine.php
index 6a26979329..004c7ce598 100644
--- a/src/Parser/InlineParserEngine.php
+++ b/src/Parser/InlineParserEngine.php
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ public function parse(string $contents, AbstractBlock $block): void
     private function addPlainText(string $text, AbstractBlock $container): void
     {
         $lastInline = $container->lastChild();
-        if ($lastInline instanceof Text && ! $lastInline->data->has('delim')) {
+        if ($lastInline instanceof Text && ! $lastInline->isDelimiter) {
             $lastInline->append($text);
         } else {
             $container->appendChild(new Text($text));