What Are Feature Flags?

Feature flags are a software development concept that allow developers to enable or disable features without modifying source code or redeploying. They decouple deployment from release, enabling teams to deploy new features without making them visible to users and allowing for precise targeting and control. This improves the speed and stability of development teams by reducing the stress around releases and enabling faster resolution of incidents. Feature flags are more versatile, sophisticated, and powerful than configuration files. They can be used in various scenarios such as de-risking software releases, improving reliability and operational health, targeting and personalizing software experiences, learning through product experimentation and A/B testing, and reducing the risk of migrations. Feature flags can be deployed using different methods including config files, databases, open-source solutions, or feature management platforms like LaunchDarkly. Proper naming strategies and regular flag cleanup are essential to manage technical debt associated with feature flags.