---
title: Create a flag and variables
slug: feature-experimentation/api/create-a-flag-and-variables
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-09-17T19:09:07.703Z
---

::::CodeDrawer{title="Create a flag and variables" isResponseExpanded="true" autoGeneratedAnchorSlug="create-a-flag-and-variables" legacyHash="Z6z2nX1IoOz7IbDK8QcX1"}
:::CodeblockTabsExamples
```javascript
// -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //
//                  Create a feature flag and flag variables.                 //
// -------------------------------------------------------------------------- //

POST {{flagsUrl}}/projects/{{projectId}}/flags
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: {{token}}

{
  "key": "inventory_on_pdp",
  "name": "Inventory on PDP",
  "description": "Flag to either show or hide inventory on the product detail page.",
  "variable_definitions": {
    "show_amounts": {
      "key": "show_amounts",
      "type": "boolean",
      "default_value": "false",
      "description": "If inventory is shown, this variable controls what is displayed: available/unavailable vs the actual inventory amount."
    },
    "text_color": {
      "key": "text_color",
      "type": "string",
      "default_value": "green",
      "description": "The color of the text displaying the inventory."
    },
    "low_stock_threshold": {
      "key": "low_stock_threshold",
      "type": "integer",
      "default_value": "0",
      "description": "The threshold quantity remaining to show a low stock message.  Setting this to 0 results in not displaying the low stock message."
    },
    "low_stock_message": {
      "key": "low_stock_message",
      "type": "string",
      "default_value": "Low Stock - Act Quick",
      "description": "The Low Stock message to display if low_stock_threshold is set to a number greater than 0."
    }
  }
}
```
:::

:::CodeblockTabsResponses
```javascript
{"success":true}
```
:::
::::

Create a flag with four variables using the [Create flag](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/feature-experimentation/reference/create_flag) API endpoint.

## Prerequisite

Before running this request, you must follow the instructions to configure your [REST API cookbook](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/feature-experimentation/reference/set-up-visual-basic-to-run-rest-api-calls).

## Create file

Create a file named `create-a-flag-and-variables.rest` and copy and paste the recipe into the file.

## Configure the API call

`{{flagsUrl}}`, `{{projectId}}`, and `{{token}}` are defined in the `settings.json` file. Ensure you have configured your Visual Studio Code project correctly. See [Configure the Visual Studio Code REST Client](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/feature-experimentation/reference/set-up-visual-basic-to-run-rest-api-calls#configure-the-visual-studio-code-rest-client).

```json
POST {{flagsUrl}}/projects/{{projectId}}/flags
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: {{token}}
```

## Configure the flag

Creates a flag with the following info:

- **key** – `inventory_on_pdp`
- **name** – `Inventory on PDP`
- **description** – Flag to show or hide inventory on the product detail page (PDP).

This corresponds to the following page in the UI:

```json
"key": "inventory_on_pdp",
"name": "Inventory on PDP",
"description": "Flag to either show or hide inventory on the product detail page.",
```

## Create flag variables

[Flag variables](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/feature-experimentation/docs/create-flag-variables) let you remotely configure your flag. Instead of hard-coding and updating your variables by re-deploying, you can group them in a flag variation and update them remotely in the UI or through the REST API.

### Create `show_amounts` variable

Adds a variable named `show_amounts` that is a Boolean with a default value of `false` to the `inventory_on_pdp` flag. The `show_amounts` variable controls what is displayed for the inventory.

Corresponds to the following in the UI:

```json
"show_amounts": {
  "key": "show_amounts",
  "type": "boolean",
  "default_value": "false",
  "description": "If inventory is shown, this variable controls what is displayed: available/unavailable vs the actual inventory amount."
},
```

### Create `text_color` variable

Adds a variable named `text_color` that is a String and has the default value of `green` to the `inventory_on_pdp` flag. The `text_color` variable sets the color of the text displaying the inventory.

Corresponds to the following in the UI:

```json
"text_color": {
  "key": "text_color",
  "type": "string",
  "default_value": "green",
  "description": "The color of the text displaying the inventory."
},
```

### Create `low_stock_threshold` variable

Adds a variable named `low_stock_threshold` that is an Integer with a default value of `0` to the `inventory_on_pdp` flag. The `low_stock_threshold` variable is the threshold quantity remaining to show a low stock message.

Corresponds to the following in the UI:

```json
"low_stock_threshold": {
  "key": "low_stock_threshold",
  "type": "integer",
  "default_value": "0",
  "description": "The threshold quantity remaining to show a low stock message.  Setting this to 0 results in not displaying the low stock message."
},
```

### Create `low_stock_message` variable

Adds a variable named `low_stock_message` that is a String with a default value of `Low Stock - Act Quick` to the `inventory_on_pdp` flag. The `low_stock_message` variable is the message displayed if the `low_stock_threshold` variable is set to a number greater than 0.

Corresponds to the following in the UI:

```json
"low_stock_message": {
  "key": "low_stock_message",
  "type": "string",
  "default_value": "Low Stock - Act Quick",
  "description": "The Low Stock message to display if low_stock_threshold is set to a number greater than 0."
}
```

## Send request

Click **Send Request** in Visual Studio Code. See the [REST Client's documentation on usage](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=humao.rest-client#usage) for information on how to send requests using the REST Client extension.