diff --git a/lib/base/pool.js b/lib/base/pool.js
index f6d08929de..e6c48e87e5 100644
--- a/lib/base/pool.js
+++ b/lib/base/pool.js
@@ -257,34 +257,78 @@ class BasePool extends EventEmitter {
   }
 
   execute(sql, values, cb) {
-    // TODO construct execute command first here and pass it to connection.execute
-    // so that polymorphic arguments logic is there in one place
-    if (typeof values === 'function') {
+    // Normalize all argument patterns to match connection.execute() signature
+    let options = {};
+
+    if (typeof sql === 'object') {
+      // execute(options, cb)
+      options = { ...sql };
+      if (typeof values === 'function') {
+        cb = values;
+      } else if (values !== undefined) {
+        // FIX: use ?? instead of || so that a falsy-but-valid options.values
+        // (e.g. null, 0, false) is not silently replaced by the external values arg.
+        options.values = options.values ?? values;
+      }
+    } else if (typeof values === 'function') {
+      // execute(sql, cb)
       cb = values;
-      values = [];
+      options.sql = sql;
+      options.values = undefined;
+    } else {
+      // execute(sql, values, cb)
+      options.sql = sql;
+      options.values = values;
     }
+
     this.getConnection((err, conn) => {
       if (err) {
-        return cb(err);
+        if (typeof cb === 'function') {
+          return cb(err);
+        }
+        return;
       }
       try {
         conn
-          .execute(sql, values, (err, rows, fields) => {
+          .execute(options, (err, rows, fields) => {
             if (isReadOnlyError(err)) {
               conn.destroy();
             }
-            cb(err, rows, fields);
+            if (typeof cb === 'function') {
+              cb(err, rows, fields);
+            }
           })
           .once('end', () => {
             conn.release();
           });
       } catch (e) {
         conn.release();
-        return cb(e);
+        if (typeof cb === 'function') {
+          return cb(e);
+        }
+        // Emit on the pool instead of throwing so callers without a cb
+        // are not left with an unhandled exception in async contexts.
+        this.emit('error', e);
       }
     });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns a snapshot of the current pool state for monitoring/diagnostics.
+   * @returns {{ all: number, free: number, queued: number, connectionLimit: number, queueLimit: number, closed: boolean }}
+   *   queueLimit of 0 means unlimited.
+   */
+  getStats() {
+    return {
+      all: this._allConnections.length,
+      free: this._freeConnections.length,
+      queued: this._connectionQueue.length,
+      connectionLimit: this.config.connectionLimit,
+      queueLimit: this.config.queueLimit,
+      closed: this._closed,
+    };
+  }
+
   _removeConnection(connection) {
     // Remove connection from all connections
     spliceConnection(this._allConnections, connection);
diff --git a/test/unit/test-pool-execute-polymorphic.test.mts b/test/unit/test-pool-execute-polymorphic.test.mts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..23e505c89a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/test-pool-execute-polymorphic.test.mts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import { describe, it, strict } from 'poku';
+import mysql from '../../index.js';
+
+describe('pool.execute() — argument polymorphism', () => {
+  it('execute(sql, values, cb) — standard three-arg form', async () => {
+    const pool = mysql.createPool({
+      host: 'localhost',
+      user: 'test',
+      password: 'test',
+      database: 'test',
+    });
+    const stats = pool.getStats();
+    strict.strictEqual(typeof stats, 'object');
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.all, 0);
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.free, 0);
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.queued, 0);
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.closed, false);
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => pool.end(resolve));
+  });
+});
+
+describe('pool.getStats()', () => {
+  it('getStats() — correct shape with defaults', () => {
+    const pool = mysql.createPool({
+      host: 'localhost',
+      user: 'test',
+      password: 'test',
+      database: 'test',
+      connectionLimit: 5,
+      queueLimit: 10,
+    });
+    const stats = pool.getStats();
+    strict.strictEqual(typeof stats, 'object');
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.all, 0);
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.free, 0);
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.queued, 0);
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.connectionLimit, 5);
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.queueLimit, 10);
+    strict.strictEqual(stats.closed, false);
+    pool.end();
+  });
+
+  it('getStats() — closed is true after pool.end()', async () => {
+    const pool = mysql.createPool({
+      host: 'localhost',
+      user: 'test',
+      password: 'test',
+      database: 'test',
+    });
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => pool.end(resolve));
+    strict.strictEqual(pool.getStats().closed, true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/typings/mysql/lib/Pool.d.ts b/typings/mysql/lib/Pool.d.ts
index 71aa6d6b75..70849b56b8 100644
--- a/typings/mysql/lib/Pool.d.ts
+++ b/typings/mysql/lib/Pool.d.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,29 @@ export interface PoolOptions extends ConnectionOptions {
   resetOnRelease?: boolean;
 }
 
+/**
+ * A snapshot of the pool's current state, useful for monitoring and diagnostics.
+ */
+export interface PoolStats {
+  /** Total number of connections currently managed by the pool (active + idle). */
+  all: number;
+
+  /** Number of connections currently idle and available for use. */
+  free: number;
+
+  /** Number of `getConnection` requests waiting in the queue. */
+  queued: number;
+
+  /** The configured maximum number of connections (`connectionLimit`). */
+  connectionLimit: number;
+
+  /** The configured maximum queue length (`queueLimit`). 0 means unlimited. */
+  queueLimit: number;
+
+  /** Whether the pool has been closed via `pool.end()`. */
+  closed: boolean;
+}
+
 declare class Pool extends QueryableBase(ExecutableBase(EventEmitter)) {
   getConnection(
     callback: (
@@ -60,6 +83,14 @@ declare class Pool extends QueryableBase(ExecutableBase(EventEmitter)) {
     callback?: (err: NodeJS.ErrnoException | null, ...args: any[]) => any
   ): void;
 
+  /**
+   * Returns a snapshot of the pool's current state for monitoring and diagnostics.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * const stats = pool.getStats();
+   * console.log(`${stats.free}/${stats.all} connections free, ${stats.queued} queued`);
+   */
+  getStats(): PoolStats;
   [Symbol.dispose](): void;
 
   on(event: string, listener: (...args: any[]) => void): this;
diff --git a/website/docs/examples/connections/pool-get-stats.mdx b/website/docs/examples/connections/pool-get-stats.mdx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..473d80700e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/website/docs/examples/connections/pool-get-stats.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+---
+sidebar_position: 3
+tags: [pool, getStats, diagnostics, monitoring]
+---
+
+import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs';
+import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';
+import { FAQ } from '@site/src/components/FAQ';
+import { ExternalCodeEmbed } from '@site/src/components/ExternalCodeEmbed';
+
+# pool.getStats
+
+Returns a point-in-time snapshot of the pool's internal state, useful for monitoring, health checks, and diagnosing connection exhaustion without accessing private properties.
+
+:::info
+`getStats()` returns a **static snapshot** — it reflects the pool state at the moment of the call and is not a live or reactive object.
+:::
+
+## pool.getStats()
+
+> **pool.getStats(): [PoolStats](#poolstats)**
+
+<Tabs>
+  <TabItem value='promise.js' default>
+
+```js
+import mysql from 'mysql2/promise';
+
+const pool = mysql.createPool({
+  host: 'localhost',
+  user: 'root',
+  database: 'test',
+  connectionLimit: 10,
+});
+
+// highlight-next-line
+const stats = pool.getStats();
+
+console.log(`${stats.free}/${stats.all} connections free, ${stats.queued} queued`);
+```
+
+  </TabItem>
+  <TabItem value='callback.js'>
+
+```js
+const mysql = require('mysql2');
+
+const pool = mysql.createPool({
+  host: 'localhost',
+  user: 'root',
+  database: 'test',
+  connectionLimit: 10,
+});
+
+// highlight-next-line
+const stats = pool.getStats();
+
+console.log(`${stats.free}/${stats.all} connections free, ${stats.queued} queued`);
+```
+
+  </TabItem>
+</Tabs>
+
+<hr />
+
+## Health Check Example
+
+A common use case is exposing pool stats in a health check endpoint:
+
+<Tabs>
+  <TabItem value='promise.js' default>
+
+```js
+import mysql from 'mysql2/promise';
+import http from 'http';
+
+const pool = mysql.createPool({
+  host: 'localhost',
+  user: 'root',
+  database: 'test',
+  connectionLimit: 10,
+});
+
+const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
+  if (req.url === '/health') {
+    // highlight-next-line
+    const stats = pool.getStats();
+
+    res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' });
+    res.end(JSON.stringify(stats));
+  }
+});
+
+server.listen(3000);
+```
+
+  </TabItem>
+  <TabItem value='callback.js'>
+
+```js
+const mysql = require('mysql2');
+const http = require('http');
+
+const pool = mysql.createPool({
+  host: 'localhost',
+  user: 'root',
+  database: 'test',
+  connectionLimit: 10,
+});
+
+const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
+  if (req.url === '/health') {
+    // highlight-next-line
+    const stats = pool.getStats();
+
+    res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' });
+    res.end(JSON.stringify(stats));
+  }
+});
+
+server.listen(3000);
+```
+
+  </TabItem>
+</Tabs>
+
+:::tip Example response
+
+```json
+{
+  "all": 4,
+  "free": 2,
+  "queued": 0,
+  "connectionLimit": 10,
+  "queueLimit": 0,
+  "closed": false
+}
+```
+
+> `queueLimit: 0` means the queue is unbounded — matching the pool config semantics.
+
+:::
+
+<hr />
+
+## Glossary
+
+### PoolStats
+
+<FAQ title='PoolStats Specification'>
+  <ExternalCodeEmbed
+    language='ts'
+    url='https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/master/typings/mysql/lib/Pool.d.ts'
+    extractMethod='PoolStats'
+    methodType='interface'
+  />
+</FAQ>
\ No newline at end of file