Getting Started with Feature Flags: A Complete Guide

Feature flags (also known as feature toggles) are a powerful technique that allows you to modify system behavior without changing code. They’re the secret weapon of high-performing development teams who want to ship faster while maintaining stability.

What Are Feature Flags?

At their core, feature flags are conditional statements in your code that control whether a piece of functionality is enabled or disabled. Think of them as switches you can flip without deploying new code.

if (featureFlags.isEnabled('new_checkout_flow')) {
  return <NewCheckout />;
} else {
  return <OldCheckout />;
}

Why Use Feature Flags?

1. Safer Deployments

Instead of big-bang releases, you can deploy code with features turned off, then gradually enable them for specific users or percentages of traffic.

2. A/B Testing Made Simple

Feature flags make it trivial to run experiments. Show different variations to different users and measure which performs better.

3. Quick Rollbacks

If something goes wrong, you can disable a feature instantly without rolling back your deployment.

4. Targeted Releases

Release features to specific user segments—beta testers, premium customers, or users in certain regions.

Best Practices

Keep flags short-lived: Remove flags once a feature is fully rolled out
Use descriptive names: enable_dark_mode_v2 is better than flag_123
Document your flags: Future you will thank present you
Monitor flag usage: Know which flags are active and who they affect

Getting Started with Rigora

Rigora makes feature flag management effortless. With our SDK, you can be up and running in minutes:

import { Rigora } from '@rigora/sdk';

const rigora = new Rigora({ apiKey: 'your-api-key' });

// Check if a feature is enabled
const isEnabled = await rigora.isEnabled('new_feature', {
  userId: user.id,
  attributes: {
    plan: user.plan,
    country: user.country,
  },
});

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