What is a Kill Switch in Software Development?

A kill switch in software development refers to a button that can turn off a specific feature when needed, allowing anyone with access to disable it quickly. This concept is often used in conjunction with feature flags, which are toggles that control the release of new features or changes in an application. Using feature flags as kill switches enables developers to separate deployments from releases and maintain continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) processes. Some advantages of using kill switches include efficient testing in production, managing network system loads during high traffic periods, automatic reverting of mobile app releases when issues arise, A/B testing and canary releases, and ensuring compliance with data privacy laws. LaunchDarkly is a platform that enables software teams to create and manage feature flags for effective Progressive Delivery with DevOps.