In the context of SAFe, what is the purpose of feature toggles?

Feature toggles, also known as feature flags, serve the purpose of allowing conditional deployment of features within the context of SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework). This means that a feature can be merged into the main codebase and deployed to production but remains inactive until it is conditionally activated. This capability provides significant flexibility and control over the deployment process, enabling teams to release code frequently and safely without exposing untested features to end users.

Using feature toggles allows product teams to incrementally develop features, gather user feedback, and perform testing in real-world environments without fully rolling out features until they are deemed ready. This facilitates a smoother user experience and helps to mitigate risks associated with releasing new functionalities.

By providing a mechanism to manage feature visibility and availability based on specific conditions, feature toggles support continuous delivery and integration practices, ultimately contributing to a more efficient and responsive development process.