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Code & Deliverynoun · /ˈfiː.tʃər flæɡ/

feature flag

In simple English

Feature flags are conditional statements in code that control whether a feature is visible or active to end users. Teams use them to deploy code to production while keeping new features hidden behind a flag until they are ready for public release. This approach reduces risk because developers can test features in production with real data without affecting all users. In modern software development, feature flags support continuous deployment practices. Rather than waiting for a perfect release day, teams push code frequently and use flags to gradually roll out features to small percentages of users first, then expand to everyone. This strategy also allows quick rollback if issues arise without redeploying the entire application. Feature flags are essential for large teams working on the same codebase. Multiple developers can work on different features simultaneously without blocking each other. Common implementations include database-driven flags, configuration files, or specialized feature management platforms.

How do software teams use feature flags to safely deploy new features to production?

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness5/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓Put it behind a feature flag
✓Toggle the feature flag on and off
✓We are running an A/B test with a feature flag
✓Feature flag it for now

Real examples

in a standup

"We merged the new dashboard code this morning, but we feature flagged it so only internal users can see it right now."

in a code review

"Good catch—wrap this API change in a feature flag so we can deploy safely without breaking existing clients."

in a team meeting

"The feature flag lets us gradually roll out the redesign to 10 percent of users on Monday and scale up if there are no issues."

in a Slack conversation

"Can you disable that feature flag in production? We are seeing a performance regression."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not confuse with a bug fix or hotfix. A feature flag is a toggle mechanism, not the actual fix itself. Also, it is not the same as a release branch.

✕We need to feature flag the bug fix.
✓We need to feature flag the new feature.— Feature flags are for controlling feature visibility, not for deploying bug fixes. Bug fixes are typically deployed directly.
✕The feature flag controls which database we use.
✓The feature flag controls whether users see the new UI or the old one.— Feature flags toggle user-facing behavior, not infrastructure decisions. Infrastructure choices are separate.
✕We removed the feature flag after launch.
✓We removed the feature flag code after confirming no users experienced issues.— Feature flags should be cleaned up from code once they are no longer needed, not just disabled.

Other forms

noun

feature flag

"This feature flag controls access to the beta dashboard."

verb phrase

to feature flag something

"We will feature flag the API changes before deploying to production."

adjective

feature-flagged

"The new checkout flow is feature-flagged and visible only to admins."

Often used with

behind a feature flagmeans the feature is hidden or controlled by a flag; most common phrasing in tech
enable/disable a feature flagto turn the flag on or off in a control system
toggle a feature flagto switch between on and off states
feature flag rolloutthe gradual process of activating a flag for increasing numbers of users
feature flag managementthe systems and processes for controlling flags across environments

Similar words

kill switchinformal term, emphasizes the ability to turn something off quickly in an emergency
feature togglesynonym often used interchangeably, slightly more formal
conditional feature releasemore descriptive term; less commonly used in conversation

Opposites

hard-coded featureunconditional deployment

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your team deployed code that might cause issues. How do you describe it?

Complete the sentence

2. We need to _______ the new search algorithm before it reaches all users.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses feature flag correctly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite using feature flag: 'We want to put the new feature into production but only show it to some customers while we check for problems.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "feature flag" in a standup this week?

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