diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 68049239cf..06b67a85d2 100644
--- a/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/MODULE.bazel
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ use_repo(node, "nodejs_toolchains")
 # For each platform, `:<PLATFORM>_toolchain_target` should be registered before `:<PLATFORM>_toolchain`,
 # https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/blob/4c373209b058d46f2a5f9ab9f8abf11b161ae459/nodejs/repositories.bzl#L461/.
 # See https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/issues/19645 and https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/pull/3750 for more context.
+# TODO This can be simplified to `register_toolchains("@nodejs_toolchains//:all")` in the next
+#      major version, or sooner if INCOMPATIBLE_RULES_NODEJS_DO_NOT_OVERLOAD_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE=1.
 register_toolchains("@nodejs_toolchains//:linux_amd64_toolchain_target")
 
 register_toolchains("@nodejs_toolchains//:linux_amd64_toolchain")
diff --git a/docs/Core.md b/docs/Core.md
index 6dbd06e26a..9e68f8cfd7 100644
--- a/docs/Core.md
+++ b/docs/Core.md
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ Additional parameters
 
 ## nodejs_toolchain
 
+TODO Update to reflect toolchain splitting.
+
 **USAGE**
 
 <pre>
@@ -193,7 +195,7 @@ toolchain(
         "@platforms//cpu:x86_64",
     ],
     toolchain = ":toolchain",
-    toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type",
+    toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:exec_runtime_toolchain_type",
 )
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/Toolchains.md b/docs/Toolchains.md
index 5b94c6a694..75fc7c5a1b 100644
--- a/docs/Toolchains.md
+++ b/docs/Toolchains.md
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@ If you have an advanced use-case and want to use a version of node not supported
 
 ## Registering a custom toolchain
 
+TODO Update to reflect toolchain splitting
+
 To run a custom toolchain (i.e., to run a node binary not supported by the built-in toolchains), you'll need four things:
 
 1) A rule which can build or load a node binary from your repository
    (a checked-in binary or a build using a relevant [`rules_foreign_cc` build rule](https://bazelbuild.github.io/rules_foreign_cc/) will do nicely).
 2) A [`nodejs_toolchain` rule](Core.html#nodejs_toolchain) which depends on your binary defined in step 1 as its `node`.
 3) A [`toolchain` rule](https://bazel.build/reference/be/platform#toolchain) that depends on your `nodejs_toolchain` rule defined in step 2 as its `toolchain`
-   and on `@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type` as its `toolchain_type`. Make sure to define appropriate platform restrictions as described in the
+   and on `@rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type` as its `toolchain_type`. Make sure to define appropriate platform restrictions as described in the
    documentation for the `toolchain` rule.
 4) A call to [the `register_toolchains` function](https://bazel.build/rules/lib/globals#register_toolchains) in your `WORKSPACE`
    that refers to the `toolchain` rule defined in step 3.
diff --git a/e2e/smoke/MODULE.bazel b/e2e/smoke/MODULE.bazel
index ee6b2091b9..03df425993 100644
--- a/e2e/smoke/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/e2e/smoke/MODULE.bazel
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ use_repo(
     "nodejs_windows_amd64",
 )
 
+register_toolchains("@nodejs_toolchains//:all")
+
 http_archive = use_repo_rule("@bazel_tools//tools/build_defs/repo:http.bzl", "http_archive")
 
 http_archive(
diff --git a/e2e/smoke/defs.bzl b/e2e/smoke/defs.bzl
index c17f6197b2..2bf993faab 100644
--- a/e2e/smoke/defs.bzl
+++ b/e2e/smoke/defs.bzl
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ def _my_nodejs_impl(ctx):
     if ctx.attr.toolchain:
         nodeinfo = ctx.attr.toolchain[platform_common.ToolchainInfo].nodeinfo
     else:
-        nodeinfo = ctx.toolchains["@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type"].nodeinfo
+        nodeinfo = ctx.toolchains["@rules_nodejs//nodejs:exec_runtime_toolchain_type"].nodeinfo
     ctx.actions.run(
         inputs = [ctx.file.entry_point],
         executable = nodeinfo.node,
@@ -16,9 +16,12 @@ def _my_nodejs_impl(ctx):
 my_nodejs = rule(
     implementation = _my_nodejs_impl,
     attrs = {
-        "entry_point": attr.label(allow_single_file = True),
+        "entry_point": attr.label(
+            allow_single_file = True,
+            cfg = "exec",
+        ),
         "out": attr.output(),
-        "toolchain": attr.label(),
+        "toolchain": attr.label(cfg = "exec"),
     },
-    toolchains = ["@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type"],
+    toolchains = ["@rules_nodejs//nodejs:exec_runtime_toolchain_type"],
 )
diff --git a/nodejs/BUILD.bazel b/nodejs/BUILD.bazel
index e66eda2d1b..bce69f9f24 100644
--- a/nodejs/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/nodejs/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
 load("//nodejs/private:nodejs_toolchains_repo.bzl", "PLATFORMS")
 load("//nodejs/private:user_build_settings.bzl", "user_args")
+load("@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain.bzl", "resolved_toolchain")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
 
@@ -19,11 +20,58 @@ bzl_library(
     ],
 )
 
-# This is the target rule authors should put in their "toolchains"
-# attribute in order to get a node interpreter for the correct
-# platform.
-# See https://docs.bazel.build/versions/main/toolchains.html#writing-rules-that-use-toolchains
-toolchain_type(name = "toolchain_type")
+# Appropriate for;
+# - Providing a runtime for *_binary rules.
+# - Compiling against the Node-API.
+# See also exec_runtime_toolchain_type.
+# See also :resolved_toolchain (e.g. for genrule)
+toolchain_type(name = "runtime_toolchain_type")
+
+# Helper for rules such as `genrule`.
+# Appropriate for (under target configuration);
+# - Providing a runtime for executable outputs.
+# - Compiling against the Node-API.
+# Appropriate for (under exec configuration);
+# - Providing a runtime for rule actions.
+# Appropriate for (under exec configuration with matching target constraints);
+# - Snapshot generation (--build-snapshot, --experimental-sea-config with `useSnapshot` or
+#   `useCodeCache`). Sensitive to OS, architecture NodeJS version and other factors constraints
+#   alone cannot capture such as;
+#   - V8 flags
+#   - CPU features
+resolved_toolchain(
+    name = "resolved_toolchain",
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
+
+alias(
+    name = "toolchain_type",
+    actual = "runtime_toolchain_type",
+    deprecation = """
+Use one of the following instead;
+- @rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type
+- @rules_nodejs//nodejs:exec_runtime_toolchain_type
+- @rules_nodejs//nodejs:compilation_toolchain_type
+See https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/issues/3795.
+"""
+)
+
+# Inverse of :runtime_toolchain_type, 
+# Appropriate for;
+# - Providing a runtime for rule actions.
+# See also :resolved_toolchain (e.g. for genrule).
+toolchain_type(name = "exec_runtime_toolchain_type")
+
+# Appropriate for;
+# - Snapshot generation (--build-snapshot, --experimental-sea-config with `useSnapshot` or
+#   `useCodeCache`). Sensitive to OS, architecture NodeJS version and other factors constraints
+#   alone cannot capture such as;
+#   - V8 flags
+#   - CPU features
+# This toolchain exists to cover niche scenarios where the runtime needs to be compatible across
+# target _and_ execution platforms. It should not be used without good reason.
+# See also resolved_toolchain (e.g. for genrule).
+toolchain_type(name = "compilation_toolchain_type")
 
 [
     platform(
diff --git a/nodejs/extensions.bzl b/nodejs/extensions.bzl
index 10dd5c7b45..52f1b27783 100644
--- a/nodejs/extensions.bzl
+++ b/nodejs/extensions.bzl
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ def _toolchain_extension(module_ctx):
             node_urls = v.node_urls,
             include_headers = v.include_headers,
             register = False,
+            incompatible_split_toolchains = v.incompatible_split_toolchains,
         )
 
 _ATTRS = {
@@ -84,6 +85,14 @@ This setting creates a dependency on a c++ toolchain.
  """,
         default = [DEFAULT_NODE_URL],
     ),
+    "incompatible_split_toolchains": attr.bool(
+        default = False,
+        doc = """
+When true, the the `@rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type` (formerly
+`@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type`) toolchain type will only contain toolchains suitable for
+*_binary rule outputs. See [#3795](https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/issues/3795).
+""",
+    ),
 }
 
 node = module_extension(
diff --git a/nodejs/private/current_node_cc_headers.bzl b/nodejs/private/current_node_cc_headers.bzl
index af3901f849..03b65f72ee 100644
--- a/nodejs/private/current_node_cc_headers.bzl
+++ b/nodejs/private/current_node_cc_headers.bzl
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@
 """Implementation of current_node_cc_headers rule."""
 
 def _current_node_cc_headers_impl(ctx):
-    return ctx.toolchains["//nodejs:toolchain_type"].nodeinfo.headers.providers_map.values()
+    return ctx.toolchains["//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type"].nodeinfo.headers.providers_map.values()
 
 current_node_cc_headers = rule(
     implementation = _current_node_cc_headers_impl,
-    toolchains = ["//nodejs:toolchain_type"],
+    toolchains = ["//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type"],
     provides = [CcInfo],
     doc = """\
 Provides the currently active Node toolchain's C++ headers.
diff --git a/nodejs/private/nodejs_toolchains_repo.bzl b/nodejs/private/nodejs_toolchains_repo.bzl
index 26f46af76f..fad6fa0b70 100644
--- a/nodejs/private/nodejs_toolchains_repo.bzl
+++ b/nodejs/private/nodejs_toolchains_repo.bzl
@@ -68,51 +68,71 @@ def _nodejs_toolchains_repo_impl(repository_ctx):
     # Workaround for https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/issues/14009
     starlark_content = """# Generated by nodejs_toolchains_repo.bzl
 
-# Forward all the providers
-def _resolved_toolchain_impl(ctx):
-    toolchain_info = ctx.toolchains["@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type"]
-    return [
-        toolchain_info,
-        toolchain_info.default,
-        toolchain_info.nodeinfo,
-        toolchain_info.template_variables,
-    ]
+load("@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain.bzl", _resolved_toolchain = "resolved_toolchain")
 
-# Copied from java_toolchain_alias
-# https://cs.opensource.google/bazel/bazel/+/master:tools/jdk/java_toolchain_alias.bzl
-resolved_toolchain = rule(
-    implementation = _resolved_toolchain_impl,
-    toolchains = ["@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type"],
-    incompatible_use_toolchain_transition = True,
-)
+# DEPRECATED
+resolved_toolchain = _resolved_toolchain
 """
     repository_ctx.file("defs.bzl", starlark_content)
 
+    # TODO Remove in next major version
     build_content = """# Generated by nodejs_toolchains_repo.bzl
-#
-# These can be registered in the workspace file or passed to --extra_toolchains flag.
-# By default all these toolchains are registered by the nodejs_register_toolchains macro
-# so you don't normally need to interact with these targets.
-
-load(":defs.bzl", "resolved_toolchain")
-
-resolved_toolchain(name = "resolved_toolchain", visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
 
+alias(
+    name = "resolved_toolchain",
+    actual = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:resolved_toolchain",
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+    deprecation = "Use @rules_nodejs//nodejs:resolved_toolchain instead. See https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/issues/3795.",
+)
 """
 
     for [platform, meta] in PLATFORMS.items():
         build_content += """
 toolchain(
-    name = "{platform}_toolchain",
+    name = "{platform}_runtime_toolchain",
+    target_compatible_with = {compatible_with},
+    toolchain = "@{user_node_repository_name}_{platform}//:toolchain",
+    toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type",
+)
+toolchain(
+    name = "{platform}_exec_runtime_toolchain",
     exec_compatible_with = {compatible_with},
     toolchain = "@{user_node_repository_name}_{platform}//:toolchain",
-    toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type",
+    toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:exec_runtime_toolchain_type",
 )
 toolchain(
-    name = "{platform}_toolchain_target",
+    name = "{platform}_compilation_toolchain",
+    exec_compatible_with = {compatible_with},
     target_compatible_with = {compatible_with},
     toolchain = "@{user_node_repository_name}_{platform}//:toolchain",
-    toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type",
+    toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:compilation_toolchain_type",
+)
+""".format(
+            platform = platform,
+            name = repository_ctx.attr.name,
+            user_node_repository_name = repository_ctx.attr.user_node_repository_name,
+            compatible_with = meta.compatible_with,
+        )
+
+        # TODO Remove in next major version
+        if repository_ctx.attr.incompatible_split_toolchains == False:
+            build_content += """
+toolchain(
+    name = "{platform}_runtime_toolchain_exec_overload",
+    exec_compatible_with = {compatible_with},
+    toolchain = "@{user_node_repository_name}_{platform}//:toolchain",
+    toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type",
+    deprecation = "Will be removed in next major version. See https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/issues/3795.",
+)
+alias(
+    name = "{platform}_toolchain",
+    actual = "{platform}_runtime_toolchain_exec_overload",
+    deprecation = "Will be removed in next major version. See https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/issues/3795.",
+)
+alias(
+    name = "{platform}_toolchain_target",
+    actual = "{platform}_runtime_toolchain",
+    deprecation = "Use :{platform}_runtime_toolchain instead. See https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/issues/3795.",
 )
 """.format(
             platform = platform,
@@ -126,9 +146,19 @@ toolchain(
 
 nodejs_toolchains_repo = repository_rule(
     _nodejs_toolchains_repo_impl,
-    doc = """Creates a repository with toolchain definitions for all known platforms
-     which can be registered or selected.""",
+    doc = """
+Creates a repository with toolchain definitions for all known platforms which can be
+registered or selected.
+""",
     attrs = {
         "user_node_repository_name": attr.string(doc = "what the user chose for the base name, eg. node16"),
+        "incompatible_split_toolchains": attr.bool(
+            default = False,
+            doc = """
+When true, the the `@rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type` (formerly
+`@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type`) toolchain type will only contain toolchains suitable for
+*_binary rule outputs. See [#3795](https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/issues/3795).
+""",
+        ),
     },
 )
diff --git a/nodejs/repositories.bzl b/nodejs/repositories.bzl
index b98fb291ae..c26a849e92 100644
--- a/nodejs/repositories.bzl
+++ b/nodejs/repositories.bzl
@@ -449,7 +449,12 @@ If your are not calling node_repositories directly you may need to upgrade to ru
     nodejs_repositories(**kwargs)
 
 # Wrapper macro around everything above, this is the primary API
-def nodejs_register_toolchains(name = DEFAULT_NODE_REPOSITORY, register = True, **kwargs):
+def nodejs_register_toolchains(
+    name = DEFAULT_NODE_REPOSITORY,
+    register = True,
+    incompatible_split_toolchains = False,
+    **kwargs
+):
     """Convenience macro for users which does typical setup.
 
     - create a repository for each built-in platform like "node16_linux_amd64" -
@@ -465,6 +470,9 @@ def nodejs_register_toolchains(name = DEFAULT_NODE_REPOSITORY, register = True,
         register: whether to call Bazel register_toolchains on the created toolchains.
             Should be True when used from a WORKSPACE file, and False used from bzlmod
             which has its own toolchain registration syntax.
+        incompatible_split_toolchains: when true, the `:runtime_toolchain_type` (formerly
+            `:toolchain_type`) toolchain type will only contain toolchains suitable for *_binary
+            rule outputs. See [#3795](https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs/issues/3795).
         **kwargs: passed to each nodejs_repositories call
     """
     for platform in BUILT_IN_NODE_PLATFORMS:
@@ -475,9 +483,12 @@ def nodejs_register_toolchains(name = DEFAULT_NODE_REPOSITORY, register = True,
         )
         if register:
             native.register_toolchains(
-                "@%s_toolchains//:%s_toolchain_target" % (name, platform),
-                "@%s_toolchains//:%s_toolchain" % (name, platform),
+                "@%s_toolchains//:%s_runtime_toolchain" % (name, platform),
+                "@%s_toolchains//:%s_exec_runtime_toolchain" % (name, platform),
+                "@%s_toolchains//:%s_compilation_toolchain" % (name, platform),
             )
+            if incompatible_split_toolchains:
+                native.register_toolchains("@%s_toolchains//:%s_runtime_toolchain_exec_overload" % (name, platform))
 
     nodejs_repo_host_os_alias(
         name = name,
@@ -493,6 +504,7 @@ def nodejs_register_toolchains(name = DEFAULT_NODE_REPOSITORY, register = True,
     nodejs_toolchains_repo(
         name = name + "_toolchains",
         user_node_repository_name = name,
+        incompatible_split_toolchains = incompatible_split_toolchains,
     )
 
 def rules_nodejs_dependencies():
diff --git a/nodejs/toolchain.bzl b/nodejs/toolchain.bzl
index 20e2c455f9..83cac77814 100644
--- a/nodejs/toolchain.bzl
+++ b/nodejs/toolchain.bzl
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ def nodejs_toolchain(
             "@platforms//cpu:x86_64",
         ],
         toolchain = ":toolchain",
-        toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:toolchain_type",
+        toolchain_type = "@rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type",
     )
     ```
 
@@ -261,3 +261,19 @@ WARNING: node_toolchain is deprecated; use nodejs_toolchain instead.
 If your are not calling node_toolchain directly you may need to upgrade to rules_js 2.x to suppress this warning.
 """)
     nodejs_toolchain(**kwargs)
+
+# Forward all the providers
+def _resolved_toolchain_impl(ctx):
+    toolchain_info = ctx.toolchains["@rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type"]
+    return [
+        toolchain_info,
+        toolchain_info.default,
+        toolchain_info.nodeinfo,
+        toolchain_info.template_variables,
+    ]
+
+# Based on https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_java/blob/6a34389003a6bed549858bb8f4673dd521ad8a54/toolchains/java_toolchain_alias.bzl#L19-L40
+resolved_toolchain = rule(
+    implementation = _resolved_toolchain_impl,
+    toolchains = ["@rules_nodejs//nodejs:runtime_toolchain_type"],
+)