A toggle is a switch that has two positions, on and off. Toggle switches can be used to control different features in software. They can be used to enable experimental design, test changes in small groups of users, or to provide a differentiated experience for certain user types. They are an effective tool for accelerating feature releases, gathering real-time feedback, and pave the way for continuous improvement.

Feature toggles help support newer agile development processes by allowing teams to deploy features while they are still being developed. This allows them to bypass the lengthy code branching process that would otherwise be required for more traditional waterfall development models. This allows your team to focus on building and testing new features without introducing the risk of regressions into production environments or impacting other users’ experiences.

Savvy teams know that every feature toggle has a carrying cost and they strive to keep that inventory low by being proactive in removing feature flags that are no longer needed. This also helps to avoid the accumulation of “toggle debt” that can bloat your codebase and slow future development efforts.

One drawback of implementing feature toggles is the complexity it adds to your codebase and the increased testing time it requires. It is also important to limit the number of toggles that are enabled at any given time so that you can manage the impact on your codebase and users. If a large number of toggles are activated at once, it can cause the code to become tangled and difficult to read.