Also known as: feature toggle, feature switch
Feature Flag
ConceptualProductOperations
Definition
Feature Flag: A feature flag is a software technique that allows teams to enable or disable features without deploying new code. Feature flags enable gradual rollouts, A/B testing, and quick rollbacks, reducing risk when releasing new functionality.
Example Usage
“We used feature flags to release the new checkout to 10% of users before rolling out to everyone.”
Common Misconceptions
Feature flags are just for experiments. They're also for operations and entitlements.
Feature flags add technical debt. Properly managed flags improve deployment flexibility.
You only need flags for major features. Even small changes benefit from controlled rollouts.
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