Feature Flag
A software development technique that enables or disables features at runtime without deploying new code.
Also: feature toggle
Definition
A feature flag (also called feature toggle or feature switch) is a software development technique that allows teams to enable or disable specific features in production at runtime without deploying new code. Feature flags enable gradual rollouts (releasing to 1% of users, then 10%, then 100%), A/B testing, kill switches for problematic features, and decoupling deployment from release. Feature flag platforms like LaunchDarkly, Unleash, and Flagsmith manage flag configurations, targeting rules, and audit trails.
Example
“A new checkout redesign is deployed behind a feature flag — released to 5% of users first, monitored for conversion rate changes, then gradually rolled out to 100%.”
Synonyms
- feature toggle
- feature switch
- conditional feature
- feature gate
Antonyms / Opposites
- hard-coded feature
- always-on feature
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Related Terms
- continuous-deployment
- ab-testing
- dark-launch
- canary-deployment