Understanding feature toggles

What are feature toggles?

Feature toggles provide a mechanism to enable or disable features in software without deploying new code. They allow you to toggle features on or off instantly, giving you control over feature rollouts and rollbacks.

Feature toggles are essentially conditional statements that determine whether a feature is accessible to users. When a toggle is "on," the feature is enabled and visible; when it's "off," the feature is disabled and hidden.

This capability is powerful for managing the release of new functionality. You can deploy code to production with the toggle off, then enable it when you're ready. If issues arise, you can quickly disable the feature without redeploying.

Feature toggles also enable targeted rollouts. You can enable a feature for a subset of users, like beta testers or specific user segments. This allows you to gather feedback and monitor performance before a full release.

Additionally, feature toggles support experimentation. You can conduct A/B tests by enabling different variations of a feature for different user groups. This data-driven approach helps optimize feature development.

Examples of feature toggles in action

A/B testing: Enable different feature variations for user groups to gather feedback and optimize user experience. Feature toggles allow you to test multiple versions simultaneously, measuring engagement and conversion rates. This data-driven approach helps determine the most effective features for your application. Learn more about A/B Testing, A/B Testing Calculator, and Bucket Testing.

Canary releases: Gradually roll out features to a small subset of users to minimize risk and gather early feedback. By using feature toggles, you can control the percentage of users exposed to new functionality. This targeted release strategy ensures stability while validating features in a production environment. More information available on Canary Testing, Feature Flags, and Feature Flag Best Practices.

Resource management: Deactivate resource-intensive features during peak loads to optimize system performance. Feature toggles enable dynamic control over application behavior based on real-time conditions. By strategically toggling off non-essential features, you can maintain responsiveness and availability during high-traffic periods. For more details, explore Build vs Buy, How Statsig Works, and Documentation.