What is a Feature Flag?
It is a technique that allows enabling or disabling functionalities.
Definition
Feature Flags, also known as Feature Toggles, are a technique that allows developers to enable or disable certain functionalities in a software application without changing the codebase.
Implementation
They can be implemented using boolean values in configuration files that are conditionally checked to determine whether a functionality should be visible and active or not.
Use Cases
They are used in Continuous Deployment (CD) approaches, Canary Releases, A/B Testing, and to manage the visibility of functionalities for different user segments.
Benefits
Feature Flags allow for safer and more efficient development, enabling teams to deploy and test new features without impacting the entire user base.
Growth
The use of Feature Flags has grown in popularity with the rise of Agile, DevOps, and continuous delivery practices in software development.
Configuration
They can be defined using a service like Bullet Train or Launch Darkly, creating a custom backend service, or using local files within the application.