Feature flags

Feature flags, also sometimes known as feature toggles, are a software development technique used to enable or disable functionality within a system without deploying new code. By wrapping features in conditional statements, developers can control their visibility through configuration rather than code changes. This approach allows teams to release new features to production in a controlled manner, toggling them on or off based on specific criteria such as user roles, environment (e.g., staging vs. production), or A/B testing requirements.

The primary benefits of feature flags include reduced deployment risk, enhanced testing capabilities, and improved continuous delivery practices. In addition, feature flags facilitate quick rollback of features if issues arise, as toggling a feature off can instantly remove it from user access.

Feature flags also support A/B testing experimentation by allowing developers to test new functionalities with a subset of users and analyze the impact before broader deployment. This approach fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation while maintaining the overall stability and reliability of the system.