Introduction
Optimizely Feature Experimentation is a feature flagging and experimentation platform for websites, mobile apps, chatbots, APIs, smart devices, and anything else with a network connection.
You can deploy code behind feature flagsfeature flags, experiment with A/B testsA/B tests, and use targeted deliveries to roll outroll out or roll back flags immediately. This functionality is available with microsecond performance impact through easy-to-use, open-source SDKsSDKs.
Note Optimizely Rollouts is the free plan for Feature Experimentation, designed for startups and teams looking to get started. It includes free feature flags and the ability to run one A/B test.
Sign up for Free Feature Flagging.
Feature Experimentation and Full Stack Experimentation (legacy)
Optimizely has sunsetsunset the previous version of Feature Experimentation, called Full Stack. Feature Experimentation is the default for new projects created after February 2021. For information, see Feature Experimentation application migrationFeature Experimentation application migration.
Feature Experimentation projects
- use the `Decide`Decide and `Track Event`Track Event methods (backward compatible with legacy SDK methods).
- have the Flags tabFlags tab in the Optimizely UI.
Full Stack (legacy) projects were created before February 2021 or had Use Legacy Experience selected on project creation. Full Stack documentation can be accessed by selecting Full Stack Experimentation in the drop-down list in this documentation.
Client-side and server-side SDKs
Feature Experimentation provides client and server-side open-source SDKs available on GitHub. Optimizely lets you choose the implementation strategy that best aligns with your application's architecture and performance requirements.
Server-side SDKs
Server-side SDKs are incorporated into your backend services, letting you manage feature flags and experiments before content is delivered to the client. This method ensures that all users receive consistent experiences, as feature decisions are made on the server. Server-side implementation is particularly advantageous for applications requiring high security and complex logic, or when you need to maintain control over the user experience across different client platforms.
Client-side SDKs
Client-side SDKs are integrated directly into applications that run on users' devices, such as web browsers or mobile apps. This lets you deploy feature flags and experiments without additional server requests, permitting personalized user experiences based on immediate client context. However, because the experiment logic resides on the client, you should consider factors like application performance and exposure of experiment details to end users.
For detailed architectural diagrams, see the Implementation checklistImplementation checklist documentation.
Supported functionality
Feature Experimentation's SDKs are built for developers and support the following:
- Feature flags and experimentation – The SDK framework natively integrates feature flags and product experimentation, so you can roll features outroll features out, roll them back, and continuously iterate on your flags by learning from each release.
- Remote configuration – Update your app in real time without a code deployment. Toggle flags on and off, and even make changes to your experimentsexperiments while they are running.
- Low latency – In-memory bucketingbucketing means no blocking network requests. Test in performance-critical code paths, secure environments, and more.
- Real-time results – Optimizely's Stats Engine provides best-in-class statistical modeling and immediate, trustable results without waiting for long, manual data queries.
- Cross-platform experimentation – Run server-side or client-side on any connected device, mobile apps, websites, and TV apps, with consistent bucketingconsistent bucketing across different languages.
Get started
Learn more about major concepts in Feature Experimentationmajor concepts in Feature Experimentation or jump into creating your first experiment.
- Use the QuickstartsQuickstarts to install and instantiate the SDK in your code, or see the SDK reference guidesSDK reference guides.
- Define feature flagsfeature flags that you use to roll out feature code gradually, make remote configurations, or run experiments. Choose user IDs, target audiences with attributes, track events, and preview flag variations.
- Use your feature flag to run A/B testsA/B tests without deploying additional code.
- Analyze the resultsresults of your experiment.
See the SDK reference guidesSDK reference guides for details about each API method, such as required arguments, return values, and side effects.
See the implementation checklistimplementation checklist section for recommendations and considerations when implementing an SDK.
Note To build a company-wide experimentation program, consider pairing Optimizely's server-side experimentation product, Feature Experimentation, with the client-side experimentation product, Web ExperimentationWeb Experimentation. See Optimizely's knowledge base article: Experiment end-to-end with Web Experimentation and Feature ExperimentationExperiment end-to-end with Web Experimentation and Feature Experimentation.
If you have any questions, contact Optimizely Support or your Customer Success Manager.