# Adding feature flag code - Docs Once you've created your feature flag in PostHog, the next step is to add your code: ## Web ### Boolean feature flags Web PostHog AI ```javascript if (posthog.isFeatureEnabled('flag-key') ) { // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload const matchedFlagPayload = posthog.getFeatureFlagPayload('flag-key') } ``` ### Multivariate feature flags Web PostHog AI ```javascript if (posthog.getFeatureFlag('flag-key') == 'variant-key') { // replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload const matchedFlagPayload = posthog.getFeatureFlagPayload('flag-key') } ``` ### Ensuring flags are loaded before usage Every time a user loads a page, we send a request in the background to fetch the feature flags that apply to that user. We store those flags in your chosen persistence option (local storage by default). This means that for most pages, the feature flags are available immediately — **except for the first time a user visits**. To handle this, you can use the `onFeatureFlags` callback to wait for the feature flag request to finish: Web PostHog AI ```javascript posthog.onFeatureFlags(function (flags, flagVariants, { errorsLoading }) { // feature flags are guaranteed to be available at this point if (posthog.isFeatureEnabled('flag-key')) { // do something } }) ``` #### Callback parameters The `onFeatureFlags` callback receives the following parameters: - `flags: string[]`: An object containing the feature flags that apply to the user. - `flagVariants: Record`: An object containing the variants that apply to the user. - `{ errorsLoading }: { errorsLoading?: boolean }`: An object containing a boolean indicating if an error occurred during the request to load the feature flags. This is `true` if the request timed out or if there was an error. It will be `false` or `undefined` if the request was successful. You won't usually need to use these, but they are useful if you want to be extra careful about feature flags not being loaded yet because of a network error and/or a network timeout (see `feature_flag_request_timeout_ms`). ### Reloading feature flags Feature flag values are cached. If something has changed with your user and you'd like to refetch their flag values, call: Web PostHog AI ```javascript posthog.reloadFeatureFlags() ``` ### Overriding server properties Sometimes, you might want to evaluate feature flags using properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can do so by setting properties the flag depends on with these calls: Web PostHog AI ```javascript posthog.setPersonPropertiesForFlags({'property1': 'value', property2: 'value2'}) ``` > **Note:** These are set for the entire session. Successive calls are additive: all properties you set are combined together and sent for flag evaluation. Whenever you set these properties, we also trigger a reload of feature flags to ensure we have the latest values. You can disable this by passing in the optional parameter for reloading: Web PostHog AI ```javascript posthog.setPersonPropertiesForFlags({'property1': 'value', property2: 'value2'}, false) ``` At any point, you can reset these properties by calling `resetPersonPropertiesForFlags`: Web PostHog AI ```javascript posthog.resetPersonPropertiesForFlags() ``` The same holds for [group](/manual/group-analytics.md) properties: Web PostHog AI ```javascript // set properties for a group posthog.setGroupPropertiesForFlags({'company': {'property1': 'value', property2: 'value2'}}) // reset properties for a given group: posthog.resetGroupPropertiesForFlags('company') // reset properties for all groups: posthog.resetGroupPropertiesForFlags() ``` > **Note:** You don't need to add the group names here, since these properties are automatically attached to the current group (set via `posthog.group()`). When you change the group, these properties are reset. #### Automatic overrides Whenever you call `posthog.identify` with person properties, we automatically add these properties to flag evaluation calls to help determine the correct flag values. The same is true for when you call `posthog.group()`. #### Default overridden properties By default, we always override some properties based on the user IP address. The list of properties that this overrides: 1. `$geoip_city_name` 2. `$geoip_country_name` 3. `$geoip_country_code` 4. `$geoip_continent_name` 5. `$geoip_continent_code` 6. `$geoip_postal_code` 7. `$geoip_time_zone` This enables any geolocation-based flags to work without manually setting these properties. ### Request timeout You can configure the `feature_flag_request_timeout_ms` parameter when initializing your PostHog client to set a flag request timeout. This helps prevent your code from being blocked in the case when PostHog's servers are too slow to respond. By default, this is set at 3 seconds. JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript posthog.init('', { api_host: 'https://us.i.posthog.com', defaults: '2026-01-30' feature_flag_request_timeout_ms: 3000 // Time in milliseconds. Default is 3000 (3 seconds). }) ``` ### Feature flag error handling When using the PostHog SDK, it's important to handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations. Here's an example of how to wrap PostHog SDK methods in an error handler: JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript function handleFeatureFlag(client, flagKey, distinctId) { try { const isEnabled = client.isFeatureEnabled(flagKey, distinctId); console.log(`Feature flag '${flagKey}' for user '${distinctId}' is ${isEnabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}`); return isEnabled; } catch (error) { console.error(`Error fetching feature flag '${flagKey}': ${error.message}`); // Optionally, you can return a default value or throw the error // return false; // Default to disabled throw error; } } // Usage example try { const flagEnabled = handleFeatureFlag(client, 'new-feature', 'user-123'); if (flagEnabled) { // Implement new feature logic } else { // Implement old feature logic } } catch (error) { // Handle the error at a higher level console.error('Feature flag check failed, using default behavior'); // Implement fallback logic } ``` ## React There are two ways to implement feature flags in React: 1. Using hooks. 2. Using the `` component. ### Method 1: Using hooks PostHog provides several hooks to make it easy to use feature flags in your React app. | Hook | Description | | --- | --- | | useFeatureFlagEnabled | Returns a boolean indicating whether the feature flag is enabled. This sends a $feature_flag_called event. | | useFeatureFlagVariantKey | Returns the variant key of the feature flag. This sends a $feature_flag_called event. | | useActiveFeatureFlags | Returns an array of active feature flags. This does not send a $feature_flag_called event. | | useFeatureFlagPayload | Returns the payload of the feature flag. This does not send a $feature_flag_called event. Always use this with useFeatureFlagEnabled or useFeatureFlagVariantKey. | #### Example 1: Using a boolean feature flag React PostHog AI ```jsx import { useFeatureFlagEnabled } from '@posthog/react' function App() { const showWelcomeMessage = useFeatureFlagEnabled('flag-key') const payload = useFeatureFlagPayload('flag-key') return (
{ showWelcomeMessage ? (

Welcome!

Thanks for trying out our feature flags.

) : (

No welcome message

Because the feature flag evaluated to false.

) }
); } export default App; ``` #### Example 2: Using a multivariate feature flag React PostHog AI ```jsx import { useFeatureFlagVariantKey } from '@posthog/react' function App() { const variantKey = useFeatureFlagVariantKey('show-welcome-message') let welcomeMessage = '' if (variantKey === 'variant-a') { welcomeMessage = 'Welcome to the Alpha!' } else if (variantKey === 'variant-b') { welcomeMessage = 'Welcome to the Beta!' } return (
{ welcomeMessage ? (

{welcomeMessage}

Thanks for trying out our feature flags.

) : (

No welcome message

Because the feature flag evaluated to false.

) }
); } export default App; ``` #### Example 3: Using a flag payload **Payload hook** The `useFeatureFlagPayload` hook does *not* send a [`$feature_flag_called`](https://posthog.com/docs/experiments/new-experimentation-engine#experiment-exposure) event, which is required for the experiment to be tracked. To ensure the exposure event is sent, you should **always** use the `useFeatureFlagPayload` hook with either the `useFeatureFlagEnabled` or `useFeatureFlagVariantKey` hook. React PostHog AI ```jsx import { useFeatureFlagPayload } from '@posthog/react' function App() { const variant = useFeatureFlagEnabled('show-welcome-message') const payload = useFeatureFlagPayload('show-welcome-message') return ( <> { variant ? (

{payload?.welcomeTitle}

{payload?.welcomeMessage}

) :

No custom welcome message

Because the feature flag evaluated to false.

} ) } ``` ### Method 2: Using the PostHogFeature component The `PostHogFeature` component simplifies code by handling feature flag related logic. It also automatically captures metrics, like how many times a user interacts with this feature. > **Note:** You still need the [`PostHogProvider`](/docs/libraries/react.md#installation) at the top level for this to work. Here is an example: React PostHog AI ```jsx import { PostHogFeature } from '@posthog/react' function App() { return (

Hello

Thanks for trying out our feature flags.

) } ``` - The `match` on the component can be either `true`, or the variant key, to match on a specific variant. - If you also want to show a default message, you can pass these in the `fallback` attribute. If you wish to customise logic around when the component is considered visible, you can pass in `visibilityObserverOptions` to the feature. These take the same options as the [IntersectionObserver API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Intersection_Observer_API). By default, we use a threshold of 0.1. #### Payloads If your flag has a payload, you can pass a function to children whose first argument is the payload. For example: React PostHog AI ```jsx import { PostHogFeature } from '@posthog/react' function App() { return ( {(payload) => { return (

{payload.welcomeMessage}

Thanks for trying out our feature flags.

) }}
) } ``` ### Request timeout You can configure the `feature_flag_request_timeout_ms` parameter when initializing your PostHog client to set a flag request timeout. This helps prevent your code from being blocked in the case when PostHog's servers are too slow to respond. By default, this is set at 3 seconds. JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript posthog.init('', { api_host: 'https://us.i.posthog.com', defaults: '2026-01-30' feature_flag_request_timeout_ms: 3000 // Time in milliseconds. Default is 3000 (3 seconds). } ) ``` ### Error handling When using the PostHog SDK, it's important to handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations. Here's an example of how to wrap PostHog SDK methods in an error handler: JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript function handleFeatureFlag(client, flagKey, distinctId) { try { const isEnabled = client.isFeatureEnabled(flagKey, distinctId); console.log(`Feature flag '${flagKey}' for user '${distinctId}' is ${isEnabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}`); return isEnabled; } catch (error) { console.error(`Error fetching feature flag '${flagKey}': ${error.message}`); // Optionally, you can return a default value or throw the error // return false; // Default to disabled throw error; } } // Usage example try { const flagEnabled = handleFeatureFlag(client, 'new-feature', 'user-123'); if (flagEnabled) { // Implement new feature logic } else { // Implement old feature logic } } catch (error) { // Handle the error at a higher level console.error('Feature flag check failed, using default behavior'); // Implement fallback logic } ``` ## Node.js There are 2 steps to implement feature flags in Node: ### Step 1: Evaluate the feature flag value #### Boolean feature flags Node.js PostHog AI ```javascript const isFeatureFlagEnabled = await client.isFeatureEnabled('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') if (isFeatureFlagEnabled) { // Your code if the flag is enabled // Optional: fetch the payload const matchedFlagPayload = await client.getFeatureFlagPayload('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user', isFeatureFlagEnabled) } ``` #### Multivariate feature flags Node.js PostHog AI ```javascript const enabledVariant = await client.getFeatureFlag('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') if (enabledVariant === 'variant-key') { // replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload const matchedFlagPayload = await client.getFeatureFlagPayload('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user', enabledVariant) } ``` ### Step 2: Include feature flag information when capturing events If you want use your feature flag to breakdown or filter events in your [insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md), you'll need to include feature flag information in those events. This ensures that the feature flag value is attributed correctly to the event. > **Note:** This step is only required for events captured using our server-side SDKs or [API](/docs/api.md). There are two methods you can use to include feature flag information in your events: #### Method 1: Include the `$feature/feature_flag_name` property In the event properties, include `$feature/feature_flag_name: variant_key`: Node.js PostHog AI ```javascript client.capture({ distinctId: 'distinct_id_of_your_user', event: 'event_name', properties: { '$feature/feature-flag-key': 'variant-key' // replace feature-flag-key with your flag key. Replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant }, }) ``` #### Method 2: Set `sendFeatureFlags` to `true` The `capture()` method has an optional argument `sendFeatureFlags`, which is set to `false` by default. This parameter controls whether feature flag information is sent with the event. #### Basic usage Setting `sendFeatureFlags` to `true` will include feature flag information with the event: Node.js PostHog AI ```javascript client.capture({ distinctId: 'distinct_id_of_your_user', event: 'event_name', sendFeatureFlags: true, }) ``` #### Advanced usage (v5.5.0+) As of version 5.5.0, `sendFeatureFlags` can also accept an options object for more granular control: Node.js PostHog AI ```javascript client.capture({ distinctId: 'distinct_id_of_your_user', event: 'event_name', sendFeatureFlags: { onlyEvaluateLocally: true, personProperties: { plan: 'premium' }, groupProperties: { org: { tier: 'enterprise' } } } }) ``` #### Performance considerations - **With local evaluation**: When [local evaluation](/docs/feature-flags/local-evaluation.md) is configured, setting `sendFeatureFlags: true` will **not** make additional server requests. Instead, it uses the locally cached feature flags, and it provides an interface for including person and/or group properties needed to evaluate the flags in the context of the event, if required. - **Without local evaluation**: PostHog will make an additional request to fetch feature flag information before capturing the event, which adds delay. #### Breaking change in v5.5.0 Prior to version 5.5.0, feature flags were automatically sent with events when using local evaluation, even when `sendFeatureFlags` was not explicitly set. This behavior has been **removed** in v5.5.0 to be more predictable and explicit. If you were relying on this automatic behavior, you must now explicitly set `sendFeatureFlags: true` to continue sending feature flags with your events. ### Fetching all flags for a user You can fetch all flag values for a single user by calling `getAllFlags()` or `getAllFlagsAndPayloads()`. This is useful when you need to fetch multiple flag values and don't want to make multiple requests. Node.js PostHog AI ```javascript await client.getAllFlags('distinct_id_of_your_user') await client.getAllFlagsAndPayloads('distinct_id_of_your_user') ``` ### Sending `$feature_flag_called` events Capturing `$feature_flag_called` events enable PostHog to know when a flag was accessed by a user and thus provide [analytics and insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md) on the flag. By default, we send a these event when: 1. You call `posthog.getFeatureFlag()` or `posthog.isFeatureEnabled()`, AND 2. It's a new user, or the value of the flag has changed. > *Note:* Tracking whether it's a new user or if a flag value has changed happens in a local cache. This means that if you reinitialize the PostHog client, the cache resets as well – causing `$feature_flag_called` events to be sent again when calling `getFeatureFlag` or `isFeatureEnabled`. PostHog is built to handle this, and so duplicate `$feature_flag_called` events won't affect your analytics. You can disable automatically capturing `$feature_flag_called` events. For example, when you don't need the analytics, or it's being called at such a high volume that sending events slows things down. To disable it, set the `sendFeatureFlagEvents` argument in your function call, like so: Node.js PostHog AI ```javascript const isFeatureFlagEnabled = await client.isFeatureEnabled( 'flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user', { 'sendFeatureFlagEvents': false }) ``` ### Advanced: Overriding server properties Sometimes, you may want to evaluate feature flags using [person properties](/docs/product-analytics/person-properties.md), [groups](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md), or group properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can provide properties to evaluate the flag with by using the `person properties`, `groups`, and `group properties` arguments. PostHog will then use these values to evaluate the flag, instead of any properties currently stored on your PostHog server. For example: Node.js PostHog AI ```javascript await client.getFeatureFlag( 'flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_the_user', { personProperties: { 'property_name': 'value' }, groups: { "your_group_type": "your_group_id", "another_group_type": "your_group_id", }, groupProperties: { 'your_group_type': { 'group_property_name': 'value' }, 'another_group_type': { 'group_property_name': 'value' } }, } ) ``` ### Overriding GeoIP properties By default, a user's GeoIP properties are set using the IP address they use to capture events on the frontend. You may want to override the these properties when evaluating feature flags. A common reason to do this is when you're not using PostHog on your frontend, so the user has no GeoIP properties. You can override GeoIP properties by including them in the `person_properties` parameter when evaluating feature flags. This is useful when you're evaluating flags on your backend and want to use the client's location instead of your server's location. The following GeoIP properties can be overridden: - `$geoip_country_code` - `$geoip_country_name` - `$geoip_city_name` - `$geoip_city_confidence` - `$geoip_continent_code` - `$geoip_continent_name` - `$geoip_latitude` - `$geoip_longitude` - `$geoip_postal_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_name` - `$geoip_time_zone` Simply include any of these properties in the `person_properties` parameter alongside your other person properties when calling feature flags. ### Request timeout You can configure the `feature_flag_request_timeout_ms` parameter when initializing your PostHog client to set a flag request timeout. This helps prevent your code from being blocked in the case when PostHog's servers are too slow to respond. By default, this is set at 3 seconds. JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript const client = new PostHog('', { api_host: 'https://us.i.posthog.com', feature_flag_request_timeout_ms: 3000 // Time in milliseconds. Default is 3000 (3 seconds). } ) ``` ### Error handling When using the PostHog SDK, it's important to handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations. Here's an example of how to wrap PostHog SDK methods in an error handler: JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript async function handleFeatureFlag(client, flagKey, distinctId) { try { const isEnabled = await client.isFeatureEnabled(flagKey, distinctId); console.log(`Feature flag '${flagKey}' for user '${distinctId}' is ${isEnabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}`); return isEnabled; } catch (error) { console.error(`Error fetching feature flag '${flagKey}': ${error.message}`); // Optionally, you can return a default value or throw the error // return false; // Default to disabled throw error; } } // Usage example try { const flagEnabled = await handleFeatureFlag(client, 'new-feature', 'user-123'); if (flagEnabled) { // Implement new feature logic } else { // Implement old feature logic } } catch (error) { // Handle the error at a higher level console.error('Feature flag check failed, using default behavior'); // Implement fallback logic } ``` ## Python There are 2 steps to implement feature flags in Python: ### Step 1: Evaluate the feature flag value #### Boolean feature flags Python PostHog AI ```python is_my_flag_enabled = posthog.feature_enabled('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') if is_my_flag_enabled: # Do something differently for this user # Optional: fetch the payload matched_flag_payload = posthog.get_feature_flag_payload('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') ``` #### Multivariate feature flags Python PostHog AI ```python enabled_variant = posthog.get_feature_flag('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') if enabled_variant == 'variant-key': # replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant # Do something differently for this user # Optional: fetch the payload matched_flag_payload = posthog.get_feature_flag_payload('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') ``` ### Step 2: Include feature flag information when capturing events If you want use your feature flag to breakdown or filter events in your [insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md), you'll need to include feature flag information in those events. This ensures that the feature flag value is attributed correctly to the event. > **Note:** This step is only required for events captured using our server-side SDKs or [API](/docs/api.md). There are two methods you can use to include feature flag information in your events: #### Method 1: Include the `$feature/feature_flag_name` property In the event properties, include `$feature/feature_flag_name: variant_key`: Python PostHog AI ```python posthog.capture( "event_name", distinct_id="distinct_id_of_the_user", properties={ "$feature/feature-flag-key": "variant-key" # replace feature-flag-key with your flag key. Replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant }, ) ``` #### Method 2: Set `send_feature_flags` to `true` The `capture()` method has an optional argument `send_feature_flags`, which is set to `false` by default. This parameter controls whether feature flag information is sent with the event. #### Basic usage Setting `send_feature_flags` to `True` will include feature flag information with the event: Python PostHog AI ```python posthog.capture( distinct_id="distinct_id_of_the_user", event='event_name', send_feature_flags=True ) ``` ## Advanced usage (v6.3.0+) As of version 6.3.0, `send_feature_flags` can also accept a dictionary for more granular control: Python PostHog AI ```python posthog.capture( distinct_id="distinct_id_of_the_user", event='event_name', send_feature_flags={ 'only_evaluate_locally': True, 'person_properties': {'plan': 'premium'}, 'group_properties': {'org': {'tier': 'enterprise'}} } ) ``` #### Performance considerations - **With local evaluation**: When [local evaluation](/docs/feature-flags/local-evaluation.md) is configured, setting `send_feature_flags: True` will **not** make additional server requests. Instead, it uses the locally cached feature flags, and it provides an interface for including person and/or group properties needed to evaluate the flags in the context of the event, if required. - **Without local evaluation**: PostHog will make an additional request to fetch feature flag information before capturing the event, which adds delay. #### Breaking change in v6.3.0 Prior to version 6.3.0, feature flags were automatically sent with events when using local evaluation, even when `send_feature_flags` was not explicitly set. This behavior has been **removed** in v6.3.0 to be more predictable and explicit. If you were relying on this automatic behavior, you must now explicitly set `send_feature_flags=True` to continue sending feature flags with your events. ### Fetching all flags for a user You can fetch all flag values for a single user by calling `get_all_flags()` or `get_all_flags_and_payloads()`. This is useful when you need to fetch multiple flag values and don't want to make multiple requests. Python PostHog AI ```python posthog.get_all_flags('distinct_id_of_your_user') posthog.get_all_flags_and_payloads('distinct_id_of_your_user') ``` ### Sending `$feature_flag_called` events Capturing `$feature_flag_called` events enable PostHog to know when a flag was accessed by a user and thus provide [analytics and insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md) on the flag. By default, we send a these event when: 1. You call `posthog.get_feature_flag()` or `posthog.feature_enabled()`, AND 2. It's a new user, or the value of the flag has changed. > *Note:* Tracking whether it's a new user or if a flag value has changed happens in a local cache. This means that if you reinitialize the PostHog client, the cache resets as well – causing `$feature_flag_called` events to be sent again when calling `get_feature_flag` or `feature_enabled`. PostHog is built to handle this, and so duplicate `$feature_flag_called` events won't affect your analytics. You can disable automatically capturing `$feature_flag_called` events. For example, when you don't need the analytics, or it's being called at such a high volume that sending events slows things down. To disable it, set the `send_feature_flag_events` argument in your function call, like so: Python PostHog AI ```python is_my_flag_enabled = posthog.feature_enabled('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user', send_feature_flag_events=False) # will not send `$feature_flag_called` events ``` ### Advanced: Overriding server properties Sometimes, you may want to evaluate feature flags using [person properties](/docs/product-analytics/person-properties.md), [groups](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md), or group properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can provide properties to evaluate the flag with by using the `person properties`, `groups`, and `group properties` arguments. PostHog will then use these values to evaluate the flag, instead of any properties currently stored on your PostHog server. For example: Python PostHog AI ```python posthog.get_feature_flag( 'flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_the_user', person_properties={'property_name': 'value'}, groups={ 'your_group_type': 'your_group_id', 'another_group_type': 'your_group_id'}, group_properties={ 'your_group_type': {'group_property_name': 'value'}, 'another_group_type': {'group_property_name': 'value'} }, ) ``` ### Overriding GeoIP properties By default, a user's GeoIP properties are set using the IP address they use to capture events on the frontend. You may want to override the these properties when evaluating feature flags. A common reason to do this is when you're not using PostHog on your frontend, so the user has no GeoIP properties. You can override GeoIP properties by including them in the `person_properties` parameter when evaluating feature flags. This is useful when you're evaluating flags on your backend and want to use the client's location instead of your server's location. The following GeoIP properties can be overridden: - `$geoip_country_code` - `$geoip_country_name` - `$geoip_city_name` - `$geoip_city_confidence` - `$geoip_continent_code` - `$geoip_continent_name` - `$geoip_latitude` - `$geoip_longitude` - `$geoip_postal_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_name` - `$geoip_time_zone` Simply include any of these properties in the `person_properties` parameter alongside your other person properties when calling feature flags. ### Request timeout You can configure the `feature_flags_request_timeout_seconds` parameter when initializing your PostHog client to set a flag request timeout. This helps prevent your code from being blocked in the case when PostHog's servers are too slow to respond. By default, this is set at 3 seconds. Python PostHog AI ```python posthog = Posthog('', host='https://us.i.posthog.com' feature_flags_request_timeout_seconds=3 // Time in second. Default is 3 ) ``` ### Error handling When using the PostHog SDK, it's important to handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations. Here's an example of how to wrap PostHog SDK methods in an error handler: Python PostHog AI ```python def handle_feature_flag(client, flag_key, distinct_id): try: is_enabled = client.is_feature_enabled(flag_key, distinct_id) print(f"Feature flag '{flag_key}' for user '{distinct_id}' is {'enabled' if is_enabled else 'disabled'}") return is_enabled except Exception as e: print(f"Error fetching feature flag '{flag_key}': {str(e)}") raise e # Usage example try: flag_enabled = handle_feature_flag(client, 'new-feature', 'user-123') if flag_enabled: # Implement new feature logic else: # Implement old feature logic except Exception as e: # Handle the error at a higher level ``` ## PHP There are 2 steps to implement feature flags in PHP: ### Step 1: Evaluate the feature flag value #### Boolean feature flags PHP PostHog AI ```php $isMyFlagEnabledForUser = PostHog::isFeatureEnabled('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') if ($isMyFlagEnabledForUser) { // Do something differently for this user } ``` #### Multivariate feature flags PHP PostHog AI ```php $enabledVariant = PostHog::getFeatureFlag('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') if ($enabledVariant === 'variant-key') { # replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant # Do something differently for this user } ``` ### Step 2: Include feature flag information when capturing events If you want use your feature flag to breakdown or filter events in your [insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md), you'll need to include feature flag information in those events. This ensures that the feature flag value is attributed correctly to the event. > **Note:** This step is only required for events captured using our server-side SDKs or [API](/docs/api.md). There are two methods you can use to include feature flag information in your events: #### Method 1: Include the `$feature/feature_flag_name` property In the event properties, include `$feature/feature_flag_name: variant_key`: PHP PostHog AI ```php PostHog::capture([ 'distinctId' => 'distinct_id_of_your_user', 'event' => 'event_name', 'properties' => [ '$feature/feature-flag-key' => 'variant-key' // replace feature-flag-key with your flag key. Replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant ] ]); ``` #### Method 2: Set `send_feature_flags` to `true` The `capture()` method has an optional argument `send_feature_flags`, which is set to `false` by default. By setting this to `true`, feature flag information will automatically be sent with the event. Note that by doing this, PostHog will make an additional request to fetch feature flag information before capturing the event. So this method is only recommended if you don't mind the extra API call and delay. PHP PostHog AI ```php PostHog::capture([ 'distinctId' => 'distinct_id_of_your_user', 'event' => 'event_name', 'send_feature_flags' => true ]); ``` ### Fetching all flags for a user You can fetch all flag values for a single user by calling `getAllFlags()`. This is useful when you need to fetch multiple flag values and don't want to make multiple requests. PHP PostHog AI ```php PostHog::getAllFlags('distinct_id_of_your_user') ``` ### Sending `$feature_flag_called` events Capturing `$feature_flag_called` events enable PostHog to know when a flag was accessed by a user and thus provide [analytics and insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md) on the flag. By default, we send a these event when: 1. You call `getFeatureFlag()` or `isFeatureEnabled()`, AND 2. It's a new user, or the value of the flag has changed. > *Note:* Tracking whether it's a new user or if a flag value has changed happens in a local cache. This means that if you reinitialize the PostHog client, the cache resets as well – causing `$feature_flag_called` events to be sent again when calling `getFeatureFlag` or `isFeatureEnabled`. PostHog is built to handle this, and so duplicate `$feature_flag_called` events won't affect your analytics. You can disable automatically capturing `$feature_flag_called` events. For example, when you don't need the analytics, or it's being called at such a high volume that sending events slows things down. To disable it, set the `sendFeatureFlagEvents` argument in your function call, like so: PHP PostHog AI ```php $isMyFlagEnabledForUser = PostHog::isFeatureEnabled( key: 'flag-key', distinctId: 'distinct_id_of_your_user', sendFeatureFlagEvents: false ) ``` ### Advanced: Overriding server properties Sometimes, you may want to evaluate feature flags using [person properties](/docs/product-analytics/person-properties.md), [groups](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md), or group properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can provide properties to evaluate the flag with by using the `person properties`, `groups`, and `group properties` arguments. PostHog will then use these values to evaluate the flag, instead of any properties currently stored on your PostHog server. For example: PHP PostHog AI ```php PostHog::getFeatureFlag( 'flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_the_user', [ 'your_group_type' => 'your_group_id', 'another_group_type' => 'your_group_id' ], // groups ['property_name' => 'value'], // person properties [ 'your_group_type' => ['group_property_name' => 'value'], 'another_group_type' => ['group_property_name' => 'value'] ], // group properties false, // onlyEvaluateLocally, Optional. Defaults to false. true // sendFeatureFlagEvents ); ``` ### Overriding GeoIP properties By default, a user's GeoIP properties are set using the IP address they use to capture events on the frontend. You may want to override the these properties when evaluating feature flags. A common reason to do this is when you're not using PostHog on your frontend, so the user has no GeoIP properties. You can override GeoIP properties by including them in the `person_properties` parameter when evaluating feature flags. This is useful when you're evaluating flags on your backend and want to use the client's location instead of your server's location. The following GeoIP properties can be overridden: - `$geoip_country_code` - `$geoip_country_name` - `$geoip_city_name` - `$geoip_city_confidence` - `$geoip_continent_code` - `$geoip_continent_name` - `$geoip_latitude` - `$geoip_longitude` - `$geoip_postal_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_name` - `$geoip_time_zone` Simply include any of these properties in the `person_properties` parameter alongside your other person properties when calling feature flags. ### Request timeout You can configure the `feature_flag_request_timeout_ms` parameter when initializing your PostHog client to set a flag request timeout. This helps prevent your code from being blocked in the case when PostHog's servers are too slow to respond. By default, this is set at 3 seconds. PHP PostHog AI ```php PostHog::init("", [ 'host' => 'https://us.i.posthog.com', 'feature_flag_request_timeout_ms' => 3000 // Time in milliseconds. Default is 3000 (3 seconds). ] ); ``` ### Error handling When using the PostHog SDK, it's important to handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations. Here's an example of how to wrap PostHog SDK methods in an error handler: PHP PostHog AI ```php function handleFeatureFlag($client, $flagKey, $distinctId) { try { $isEnabled = $client->isFeatureEnabled($flagKey, $distinctId); echo "Feature flag '$flagKey' for user '$distinctId' is " . ($isEnabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled') . "\n"; return $isEnabled; } catch (Exception $e) { echo "Error fetching feature flag '$flagKey': " . $e->getMessage() . "\n"; // Optionally, you can return a default value or throw the error // return false; // Default to disabled throw $e; } } // Usage example try { $flagEnabled = handleFeatureFlag($client, 'new-feature', 'user-123'); if ($flagEnabled) { // Implement new feature logic } else { // Implement old feature logic } } catch (Exception $e) { // Handle the error at a higher level echo 'Feature flag check failed, using default behavior'; // Implement fallback logic } ``` ## Ruby There are 2 steps to implement feature flags in Ruby: ### Step 1: Evaluate the feature flag value #### Boolean feature flags Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby is_my_flag_enabled = posthog.is_feature_enabled('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') if is_my_flag_enabled # Do something differently for this user # Optional: fetch the payload matched_flag_payload = posthog.get_feature_flag_payload('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') end ``` #### Multivariate feature flags Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby enabled_variant = posthog.get_feature_flag('flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') if enabled_variant == 'variant-key' # replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant # Do something differently for this user # Optional: fetch the payload matched_flag_payload = posthog.get_feature_flag_payload('variant-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user') end ``` ### Step 2: Include feature flag information when capturing events If you want use your feature flag to breakdown or filter events in your [insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md), you'll need to include feature flag information in those events. This ensures that the feature flag value is attributed correctly to the event. > **Note:** This step is only required for events captured using our server-side SDKs or [API](/docs/api.md). There are two methods you can use to include feature flag information in your events: #### Method 1: Include the `$feature/feature_flag_name` property In the event properties, include `$feature/feature_flag_name: variant_key`: Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby posthog.capture({ distinct_id: 'distinct_id_of_your_user', event: 'event_name', properties: { '$feature/feature-flag-key': 'variant-key', # replace feature-flag-key with your flag key. Replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant } }) ``` #### Method 2: Set `send_feature_flags` to `true` The `capture()` method has an optional argument `send_feature_flags`, which is set to `false` by default. This parameter controls whether feature flag information is sent with the event. #### Basic usage Setting `send_feature_flags` to `true` will include feature flag information with the event: Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby posthog.capture({ distinct_id: 'distinct_id_of_your_user', event: 'event_name', send_feature_flags: true, }) ``` ## Advanced usage (v3.1.0+) As of version 3.1.0, `send_feature_flags` can also accept a hash for more granular control: Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby posthog.capture({ distinct_id: 'distinct_id_of_your_user', event: 'event_name', send_feature_flags: { only_evaluate_locally: true, person_properties: { plan: 'premium' }, group_properties: { org: { tier: 'enterprise' } } } }) ``` #### Performance considerations - **With local evaluation**: When [local evaluation](/docs/feature-flags/local-evaluation.md) is configured, setting `send_feature_flags: true` will **not** make additional server requests. Instead, it uses the locally cached feature flags, and it provides an interface for including person and/or group properties needed to evaluate the flags in the context of the event, if required. - **Without local evaluation**: PostHog will make an additional request to fetch feature flag information before capturing the event, which adds delay. #### Breaking change in v3.1.0 Prior to version 3.1.0, feature flags were automatically sent with events when using local evaluation, even when `send_feature_flags` was not explicitly set. This behavior has been **removed** in v3.1.0 to be more predictable and explicit. If you were relying on this automatic behavior, you must now explicitly set `send_feature_flags: true` to continue sending feature flags with your events. ### Fetching all flags for a user You can fetch all flag values for a single user by calling `get_all_flags()` or `get_all_flags_and_payloads()`. This is useful when you need to fetch multiple flag values and don't want to make multiple requests. Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby posthog.get_all_flags('distinct_id_of_your_user') posthog.get_all_flags_and_payloads('distinct_id_of_your_user') ``` ### Sending `$feature_flag_called` events Capturing `$feature_flag_called` events enable PostHog to know when a flag was accessed by a user and thus provide [analytics and insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md) on the flag. By default, we send a these event when: 1. You call `posthog.get_feature_flag()` or `posthog.is_feature_enabled()`, AND 2. It's a new user, or the value of the flag has changed. > *Note:* Tracking whether it's a new user or if a flag value has changed happens in a local cache. This means that if you reinitialize the PostHog client, the cache resets as well – causing `$feature_flag_called` events to be sent again when calling `get_feature_flag` or `is_feature_enabled`. PostHog is built to handle this, and so duplicate `$feature_flag_called` events won't affect your analytics. You can disable automatically capturing `$feature_flag_called` events. For example, when you don't need the analytics, or it's being called at such a high volume that sending events slows things down. To disable it, set the `send_feature_flag_events` argument in your function call, like so: Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby is_my_flag_enabled = posthog.is_feature_enabled( 'flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_your_user', send_feature_flag_events: true) ``` ### Advanced: Overriding server properties Sometimes, you may want to evaluate feature flags using [person properties](/docs/product-analytics/person-properties.md), [groups](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md), or group properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can provide properties to evaluate the flag with by using the `person properties`, `groups`, and `group properties` arguments. PostHog will then use these values to evaluate the flag, instead of any properties currently stored on your PostHog server. For example: Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby posthog.get_feature_flag( 'flag-key', 'distinct_id_of_the_user', person_properties: { 'property_name': 'value' }, groups: { 'your_group_type': 'your_group_id', 'another_group_type': 'your_group_id', }, group_properties: { 'your_group_type': { 'group_property_name': 'value' } 'another_group_type': { 'group_property_name': 'value' } }, ) ``` ### Overriding GeoIP properties By default, a user's GeoIP properties are set using the IP address they use to capture events on the frontend. You may want to override the these properties when evaluating feature flags. A common reason to do this is when you're not using PostHog on your frontend, so the user has no GeoIP properties. You can override GeoIP properties by including them in the `person_properties` parameter when evaluating feature flags. This is useful when you're evaluating flags on your backend and want to use the client's location instead of your server's location. The following GeoIP properties can be overridden: - `$geoip_country_code` - `$geoip_country_name` - `$geoip_city_name` - `$geoip_city_confidence` - `$geoip_continent_code` - `$geoip_continent_name` - `$geoip_latitude` - `$geoip_longitude` - `$geoip_postal_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_name` - `$geoip_time_zone` Simply include any of these properties in the `person_properties` parameter alongside your other person properties when calling feature flags. ### Request timeout You can configure the `feature_flag_request_timeout_seconds` parameter when initializing your PostHog client to set a flag request timeout. This helps prevent your code from being blocked in the case when PostHog's servers are too slow to respond. By default, this is set at 3 seconds. Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby posthog = PostHog::Client.new({ # rest of your configuration... feature_flag_request_timeout_seconds: 3 # Time in seconds. Default is 3. }) ``` ### Error handling When using the PostHog SDK, it's important to handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations. Here's an example of how to wrap PostHog SDK methods in an error handler: Ruby PostHog AI ```ruby def handle_feature_flag(client, flag_key, distinct_id) begin is_enabled = client.is_feature_enabled(flag_key, distinct_id) puts "Feature flag '#{flag_key}' for user '#{distinct_id}' is #{is_enabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}" return is_enabled rescue => e puts "Error fetching feature flag '#{flag_key}': #{e.message}" # Optionally, you can return a default value or throw the error # return false # Default to disabled raise e end end # Usage example try flag_enabled = handle_feature_flag(client, 'new-feature', 'user-123') if flag_enabled # Implement new feature logic else # Implement old feature logic end rescue => e # Handle the error at a higher level puts 'Feature flag check failed, using default behavior' # Implement fallback logic end ``` ## Go There are 2 steps to implement feature flags in Go: ### Step 1: Evaluate the feature flag value #### Boolean feature flags Go PostHog AI ```go isMyFlagEnabled, err := client.IsFeatureEnabled(posthog.FeatureFlagPayload{ Key: "flag-key", DistinctId: "distinct_id_of_your_user", }) if err != nil { // Handle error (e.g. capture error and fallback to default behavior) } if isMyFlagEnabled == true { // Do something differently for this user } ``` #### Multivariate feature flags Go PostHog AI ```go enabledVariant, err := client.GetFeatureFlag(posthog.FeatureFlagPayload{ Key: "flag-key", DistinctId: "distinct_id_of_your_user", }) if err != nil { // Handle error (e.g. capture error and fallback to default behavior) } if enabledVariant == "variant-key" { // replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant // Do something differently for this user } ``` ### Step 2: Include feature flag information when capturing events If you want use your feature flag to breakdown or filter events in your [insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md), you'll need to include feature flag information in those events. This ensures that the feature flag value is attributed correctly to the event. > **Note:** This step is only required for events captured using our server-side SDKs or [API](/docs/api.md). There are two methods you can use to include feature flag information in your events: #### Method 1: Include the `$feature/feature_flag_name` property In the event properties, include `$feature/feature_flag_name: variant_key`: Go PostHog AI ```go client.Enqueue(posthog.Capture{ DistinctId: "distinct_id_of_your_user", Event: "event_name", Properties: posthog.NewProperties(). Set("$feature/feature-flag-key", "variant-key"), // replace feature-flag-key with your flag key. Replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant }) ``` #### Method 2: Set `SendFeatureFlags` to `true` The `Capture` struct has an optional field `SendFeatureFlags`, which is set to `false` by default. This parameter controls whether feature flag information is sent with the event. #### Basic usage Setting `SendFeatureFlags` to `true` will include feature flag information with the event: Go PostHog AI ```go client.Enqueue(posthog.Capture{ DistinctId: "distinct_id_of_your_user", Event: "event_name", SendFeatureFlags: true, }) ``` ## Advanced usage (v1.6.1+) As of version 1.6.1, `SendFeatureFlags` can also accept a `SendFeatureFlagsOptions` struct for more granular control: Go PostHog AI ```go client.Enqueue(posthog.Capture{ DistinctId: "distinct_id_of_your_user", Event: "event_name", SendFeatureFlags: posthog.SendFeatureFlagsOptions{ OnlyEvaluateLocally: true, PersonProperties: map[string]interface{}{ "plan": "premium", }, GroupProperties: map[string]map[string]interface{}{ "org": { "tier": "enterprise", }, }, }, }) ``` #### Performance considerations - **With local evaluation**: When [local evaluation](/docs/feature-flags/local-evaluation.md) is configured, setting `SendFeatureFlags: true` will **not** make additional server requests. Instead, it uses the locally cached feature flags, and it provides an interface for including person and/or group properties needed to evaluate the flags in the context of the event, if required. - **Without local evaluation**: PostHog will make an additional request to fetch feature flag information before capturing the event, which adds delay. #### Breaking change in v1.6.1 Prior to version 1.6.1, feature flags were automatically sent with events when using local evaluation, even when `SendFeatureFlags` was not explicitly set. This behavior has been **removed** in v1.6.1 to be more predictable and explicit. If you were relying on this automatic behavior, you must now explicitly set `SendFeatureFlags: true` to continue sending feature flags with your events. ### Fetching all flags for a user You can fetch all flag values for a single user by calling `GetAllFlags()`. This is useful when you need to fetch multiple flag values and don't want to make multiple requests. Go PostHog AI ```go featureVariants, err := client.GetAllFlags(posthog.FeatureFlagPayloadNoKey{ DistinctId: "distinct_id_of_your_user", }) ``` ### Sending `$feature_flag_called` events Capturing `$feature_flag_called` events enable PostHog to know when a flag was accessed by a user and thus provide [analytics and insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md) on the flag. By default, we send a these event when: 1. You call `GetFeatureFlag()` or `IsFeatureEnabled()`, AND 2. It's a new user, or the value of the flag has changed. > *Note:* Tracking whether it's a new user or if a flag value has changed happens in a local cache. This means that if you reinitialize the PostHog client, the cache resets as well – causing `$feature_flag_called` events to be sent again when calling `GetFeatureFlag` or `IsFeatureEnabled`. PostHog is built to handle this, and so duplicate `$feature_flag_called` events won't affect your analytics. You can disable automatically capturing `$feature_flag_called` events. For example, when you don't need the analytics, or it's being called at such a high volume that sending events slows things down. To disable it (pre v1.6.1), set the `SendFeatureFlagEvents` argument in your function call, like so: Go PostHog AI ```go sendFeatureFlags := false isMyFlagEnabled, err := client.IsFeatureEnabled(posthog.FeatureFlagPayload{ Key: "flag-key", DistinctId: "distinct_id_of_your_user", SendFeatureFlagEvents: &sendFeatureFlags, }) ``` Versions after v1.6.1 have this feature disabled by default. ### Advanced: Overriding server properties Sometimes, you may want to evaluate feature flags using [person properties](/docs/product-analytics/person-properties.md), [groups](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md), or group properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can provide properties to evaluate the flag with by using the `person properties`, `groups`, and `group properties` arguments. PostHog will then use these values to evaluate the flag, instead of any properties currently stored on your PostHog server. For example: Go PostHog AI ```go enabledVariant, err := client.GetFeatureFlag( FeatureFlagPayload{ Key: "flag-key", DistinctId: "distinct_id_of_the_user", Groups: posthog.NewGroups(). Set("your_group_type", "your_group_id"). Set("another_group_type", "your_group_id"), PersonProperties: posthog.NewProperties(). Set("property_name", "value"), GroupProperties: map[string]map[string]interface{}{ "your_group_type": { "group_property_name": "value", }, "another_group_type": { "group_property_name": "value", }, }, }, ) ``` ### Overriding GeoIP properties By default, a user's GeoIP properties are set using the IP address they use to capture events on the frontend. You may want to override the these properties when evaluating feature flags. A common reason to do this is when you're not using PostHog on your frontend, so the user has no GeoIP properties. You can override GeoIP properties by including them in the `person_properties` parameter when evaluating feature flags. This is useful when you're evaluating flags on your backend and want to use the client's location instead of your server's location. The following GeoIP properties can be overridden: - `$geoip_country_code` - `$geoip_country_name` - `$geoip_city_name` - `$geoip_city_confidence` - `$geoip_continent_code` - `$geoip_continent_name` - `$geoip_latitude` - `$geoip_longitude` - `$geoip_postal_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_name` - `$geoip_time_zone` Simply include any of these properties in the `person_properties` parameter alongside your other person properties when calling feature flags. ### Request timeout You can configure the `FeatureFlagRequestTimeout` parameter when initializing your PostHog client to set a flag request timeout. This helps prevent your code from being blocked in the case when PostHog's servers are too slow to respond. By default, this is set at 3 seconds. Go PostHog AI ```go client, _ := posthog.NewWithConfig( os.Getenv(""), posthog.Config{ PersonalApiKey: "your personal API key", // Optional, but much more performant. If this token is not supplied, then fetching feature flag values will be slower. Endpoint: "https://us.i.posthog.com", FeatureFlagRequestTimeout: 3 // Time in seconds. Default is 3. }, ) ``` ### Error handling When using the PostHog SDK, it's important to handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations. Here's an example of how to wrap PostHog SDK methods in an error handler: Go PostHog AI ```go func handleFeatureFlag(client *posthog.Client, flagKey string, distinctId string) { flag, err := client.GetFeatureFlag(posthog.FeatureFlagPayload{ Key: flagKey, DistinctId: distinctId, }) if err != nil { // Handle the error appropriately log.Printf("Error fetching feature flag: %v", err) return } // Use the flag value as needed fmt.Printf("Feature flag '%s' for user '%s': %s\n", flagKey, distinctId, flag) } ``` ## React Native There are two ways to implement feature flags in React Native: 1. Using hooks. 2. Loading the flag directly. ### Method 1: Using hooks #### Example 1: Boolean feature flags React Native PostHog AI ```jsx import { useFeatureFlag } from 'posthog-react-native' const MyComponent = () => { const booleanFlag = useFeatureFlag('key-for-your-boolean-flag') if (booleanFlag === undefined) { // the response is undefined if the flags are being loaded return null } // Optional use the 'useFeatureFlagWithPayload' hook for fetching the feature flag payload return booleanFlag ? Testing feature 😄 : Not Testing feature 😢 } ``` #### Example 2: Multivariate feature flags React Native PostHog AI ```jsx import { useFeatureFlag } from 'posthog-react-native' const MyComponent = () => { const multiVariantFeature = useFeatureFlag('key-for-your-multivariate-flag') if (multiVariantFeature === undefined) { // the response is undefined if the flags are being loaded return null } else if (multiVariantFeature === 'variant-name') { // replace 'variant-name' with the name of your variant // Do something } // Optional use the 'useFeatureFlagWithPayload' hook for fetching the feature flag payload return
} ``` ### Method 2: Loading the flag directly React Native PostHog AI ```jsx // Defaults to undefined if not loaded yet or if there was a problem loading posthog.isFeatureEnabled('key-for-your-boolean-flag') // Defaults to undefined if not loaded yet or if there was a problem loading posthog.getFeatureFlag('key-for-your-boolean-flag') // Multivariant feature flags are returned as a string posthog.getFeatureFlag('key-for-your-multivariate-flag') // Optional fetch the payload returns 'JsonType' or undefined if not loaded yet or if there was a problem loading posthog.getFeatureFlagPayload('key-for-your-multivariate-flag') ``` ### Ensuring flags are loaded before usage Every time a user opens the app, we send a request in the background to fetch the feature flags that apply to that user. We store those flags in the storage. This means that for most screens, the feature flags are available immediately — **except for the first time a user visits**. To handle this, you can use the `onFeatureFlags` callback to wait for the feature flag request to finish: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx posthog.onFeatureFlags((flags) => { // feature flags are guaranteed to be available at this point if (posthog.isFeatureEnabled('flag-key')) { // do something } }) ``` ### Reloading flags PostHog loads feature flags when instantiated and refreshes whenever methods are called that affect the flag. If want to manually trigger a refresh, you can call `reloadFeatureFlagsAsync()`: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx posthog.reloadFeatureFlagsAsync().then((refreshedFlags) => console.log(refreshedFlags)) ``` Or when you want to trigger the reload, but don't care about the result: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx posthog.reloadFeatureFlags() ``` ### Feature flag caching The React Native SDK caches feature flag values in AsyncStorage. Cached values persist indefinitely with no TTL until updated by a successful API call. This enables offline support and reduces latency, but means **inactive users may see stale flag values** from their last session. For example, if a user last opened your app when a flag was `false`, that value remains cached even after you roll it out to 100%. When they reopen the app, the SDK returns the cached `false` first, then fetches the fresh `true` value from the API. To ensure fresh flag values: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx // Force refresh on app start await posthog.reloadFeatureFlagsAsync() ``` Or clear cached values for inactive users: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx if (lastActiveDate < migrationDate) { posthog.reset() // Clears all cached data } ``` ### Request timeout You can configure the `featureFlagsRequestTimeoutMs` parameter when initializing your PostHog client to set a flag request timeout. This helps prevent your code from being blocked in the case when PostHog's servers are too slow to respond. By default, this is set at 10 seconds. React Native PostHog AI ```jsx export const posthog = new PostHog('', { // usually 'https://us.i.posthog.com' or 'https://eu.i.posthog.com' host: 'https://us.i.posthog.com', featureFlagsRequestTimeoutMs: 10000 // Time in milliseconds. Default is 10000 (10 seconds). }) ``` ### Error handling When using the PostHog SDK, it's important to handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations. Here's an example of how to wrap PostHog SDK methods in an error handler: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx function handleFeatureFlag(client, flagKey, distinctId) { try { const isEnabled = client.isFeatureEnabled(flagKey, distinctId); console.log(`Feature flag '${flagKey}' for user '${distinctId}' is ${isEnabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}`); return isEnabled; } catch (error) { console.error(`Error fetching feature flag '${flagKey}': ${error.message}`); // Optionally, you can return a default value or throw the error // return false; // Default to disabled throw error; } } // Usage example try { const flagEnabled = handleFeatureFlag(client, 'new-feature', 'user-123'); if (flagEnabled) { // Implement new feature logic } else { // Implement old feature logic } } catch (error) { // Handle the error at a higher level console.error('Feature flag check failed, using default behavior'); // Implement fallback logic } ``` ### Overriding server properties Sometimes, you might want to evaluate feature flags using properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can do so by setting properties the flag depends on with these calls: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx posthog.setPersonPropertiesForFlags({'property1': 'value', property2: 'value2'}) ``` Note that these are set for the entire session. Successive calls are additive: all properties you set are combined together and sent for flag evaluation. Whenever you set these properties, we also trigger a reload of feature flags to ensure we have the latest values. You can disable this by passing in the optional parameter for reloading: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx posthog.setPersonPropertiesForFlags({'property1': 'value', property2: 'value2'}, false) ``` At any point, you can reset these properties by calling `resetPersonPropertiesForFlags`: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx posthog.resetPersonPropertiesForFlags() ``` The same holds for [group](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md) properties: React Native PostHog AI ```jsx // set properties for a group posthog.setGroupPropertiesForFlags({'company': {'property1': 'value', property2: 'value2'}}) // reset properties for all groups: posthog.resetGroupPropertiesForFlags() ``` > **Note:** You don't need to add the group names here, since these properties are automatically attached to the current group (set via `posthog.group()`). When you change the group, these properties are reset. **Automatic overrides** Whenever you call `posthog.identify` with person properties, we automatically add these properties to flag evaluation calls to help determine the correct flag values. The same is true for when you call `posthog.group()`. **Default overridden properties** By default, we always override some properties based on the user IP address. The list of properties that this overrides: 1. $geoip\_city\_name 2. $geoip\_country\_name 3. $geoip\_country\_code 4. $geoip\_continent\_name 5. $geoip\_continent\_code 6. $geoip\_postal\_code 7. $geoip\_time\_zone This enables any geolocation-based flags to work without manually setting these properties. ## Android ### Boolean feature flags Kotlin PostHog AI ```kotlin import com.posthog.PostHog if (PostHog.isFeatureEnabled("flag-key")) { // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload val matchedFlagPayload = PostHog.getFeatureFlagPayload("flag-key") } ``` ### Multivariate feature flags Kotlin PostHog AI ```kotlin import com.posthog.PostHog if (PostHog.getFeatureFlag("flag-key") == "variant-key") { // replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload val matchedFlagPayload = PostHog.getFeatureFlagPayload("flag-key") } ``` ### Ensuring flags are loaded before usage Every time a user opens the app, we send a request in the background to fetch the feature flags that apply to that user. We store those flags in the storage. This means that for most screens, the feature flags are available immediately – **except for the first time a user visits**. To handle this, you can use the `onFeatureFlags` callback to wait for the feature flag request to finish: Kotlin PostHog AI ```kotlin import com.posthog.PostHog import com.posthog.android.PostHogAndroidConfig import com.posthog.PostHogOnFeatureFlags // During SDK initialization val config = PostHogAndroidConfig(apiKey = "").apply { onFeatureFlags = PostHogOnFeatureFlags { if (PostHog.isFeatureEnabled("flag-key")) { // do something } } } // And/Or manually the SDK is initialized PostHog.reloadFeatureFlags { if (PostHog.isFeatureEnabled("flag-key")) { // do something } } ``` ### Reloading feature flags Feature flag values are cached. If something has changed with your user and you'd like to refetch their flag values, call: Kotlin PostHog AI ```kotlin import com.posthog.PostHog PostHog.reloadFeatureFlags() ``` ## iOS ### Boolean feature flags Swift PostHog AI ```swift if (PostHogSDK.shared.isFeatureEnabled("flag-key")) { // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload let matchedFlagPayload = PostHogSDK.shared.getFeatureFlagPayload("flag-key") } ``` ### Multivariate feature flags Swift PostHog AI ```swift if (PostHogSDK.shared.getFeatureFlag("flag-key") as? String == "variant-key") { // replace "variant-key" with the key of your variant // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload let matchedFlagPayload = PostHogSDK.shared.getFeatureFlagPayload("flag-key") } ``` ### Reloading feature flags Feature flag values are cached. If something has changed with your user and you'd like to refetch their flag values, call: Swift PostHog AI ```swift PostHogSDK.shared.reloadFeatureFlags() ``` ### Ensuring flags are loaded before usage Every time a user opens the app, we send a request in the background to fetch the feature flags that apply to that user. We store those flags in the storage. This means that for most screens, the feature flags are available immediately – **except for the first time a user visits**. To handle this, you can use the `didReceiveFeatureFlags` notification to wait for the feature flag request to finish: Swift PostHog AI ```swift class AppDelegate: NSObject, UIApplicationDelegate { func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey : Any]? = nil) -> Bool { // register for `didReceiveFeatureFlags` notification before SDK initialization NotificationCenter.default.addObserver( self, selector: #selector(receiveFeatureFlags), name: PostHogSDK.didReceiveFeatureFlags, object: nil ) let POSTHOG_API_KEY = "" // usually 'https://us.i.posthog.com' or 'https://eu.i.posthog.com' let POSTHOG_HOST = "https://us.i.posthog.com" let config = PostHogConfig(apiKey: POSTHOG_API_KEY, host: POSTHOG_HOST) PostHogSDK.shared.setup(config) return true } // The "receiveFeatureFlags" method will be called when the SDK receives the feature flags from the server. @objc func receiveFeatureFlags() { print("receiveFeatureFlags called") } } ``` Alternatively, you can use the completion block of the `reloadFeatureFlags(_:)` method. This allows you to execute logic immediately after the flags are reloaded: Swift PostHog AI ```swift // Reload feature flags and check if a specific feature is enabled PostHogSDK.shared.reloadFeatureFlags { if PostHogSDK.shared.isFeatureEnabled("flag-key") { // do something } } ``` ## Flutter ### Boolean feature flags Dart PostHog AI ```dart if (await Posthog().isFeatureEnabled('flag-key')) { // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload final matchedFlagPayload = await Posthog().getFeatureFlagPayload('flag-key'); } ``` ### Multivariate feature flags Dart PostHog AI ```dart if (await Posthog().getFeatureFlag('flag-key') == 'variant-key') { // replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload final matchedFlagPayload = await Posthog().getFeatureFlagPayload('flag-key'); } ``` ### Ensuring flags are loaded before usage > To use the `onFeatureFlags` callback, you must [set up the SDK manually](#installation) by disabling the `com.posthog.posthog.AUTO_INIT` mode. Every time a user opens the app, we send a request in the background to fetch the feature flags that apply to that user. We store those flags in the storage. This means that for most screens, the feature flags are available immediately – **except for the first time a user visits**. To handle this, you can use the `onFeatureFlags` callback in your config to be notified when flags are loaded: Dart PostHog AI ```dart final config = PostHogConfig(''); config.host = 'https://us.i.posthog.com'; config.onFeatureFlags = () async { if (await Posthog().isFeatureEnabled('flag-key')) { // do something } }; await Posthog().setup(config); ``` ### Reloading feature flags Feature flag values are cached. If something has changed with your user and you'd like to refetch their flag values, call: Dart PostHog AI ```dart await Posthog().reloadFeatureFlags(); ``` ## Java ### Boolean feature flags Java PostHog AI ```java if (posthog.isFeatureEnabled("distinct_id_of_your_user", "flag-key")) { // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload Object matchedFlagPayload = posthog.getFeatureFlagPayload("distinct_id_of_your_user", "flag-key"); } ``` ### Multivariate feature flags Java PostHog AI ```java if ("variant-key".equals(posthog.getFeatureFlag("distinct_id_of_your_user", "flag-key"))) { // replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload Object matchedFlagPayload = posthog.getFeatureFlagPayload("distinct_id_of_your_user", "flag-key"); } ``` ### Advanced: Overriding server properties Sometimes, you may want to evaluate feature flags using [person properties](/docs/product-analytics/person-properties.md), [groups](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md), or group properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can provide properties to evaluate the flag with by using the `person properties`, `groups`, and `group properties` arguments. PostHog will then use these values to evaluate the flag, instead of any properties currently stored on your PostHog server. For example: Java PostHog AI ```java import com.posthog.server.PostHogFeatureFlagOptions; posthog.getFeatureFlag( "distinct_id_of_the_user", "flag-key", PostHogFeatureFlagOptions .builder() .defaultValue(false) .group("your_group_type", "your_group_id") .group("another_group_type", "your_group_id") .groupProperty("your_group_type", "group_property_name", "value") .groupProperty("another_group_type", "group_property_name", "value") .personProperty("property_name", "value") .build()); ``` ### Overriding GeoIP properties By default, a user's GeoIP properties are set using the IP address they use to capture events on the frontend. You may want to override the these properties when evaluating feature flags. A common reason to do this is when you're not using PostHog on your frontend, so the user has no GeoIP properties. You can override GeoIP properties by including them in the `person_properties` parameter when evaluating feature flags. This is useful when you're evaluating flags on your backend and want to use the client's location instead of your server's location. The following GeoIP properties can be overridden: - `$geoip_country_code` - `$geoip_country_name` - `$geoip_city_name` - `$geoip_city_confidence` - `$geoip_continent_code` - `$geoip_continent_name` - `$geoip_latitude` - `$geoip_longitude` - `$geoip_postal_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_name` - `$geoip_time_zone` Simply include any of these properties in the `person_properties` parameter alongside your other person properties when calling feature flags. ## Rust There are 2 steps to implement feature flags in Rust: ### Step 1: Evaluate the feature flag value #### Boolean feature flags Rust PostHog AI ```rust let is_enabled = client.is_feature_enabled( "flag-key".to_string(), "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string(), None, // groups None, // person_properties None, // group_properties ).await.unwrap(); if is_enabled { // Do something differently for this user } ``` #### Multivariate feature flags Rust PostHog AI ```rust use posthog_rs::FlagValue; match client.get_feature_flag( "flag-key".to_string(), "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string(), None, // groups None, // person_properties None, // group_properties ).await.unwrap() { Some(FlagValue::String(variant)) => { if variant == "variant-key" { // Do something for this variant } } Some(FlagValue::Boolean(enabled)) => { // Handle boolean flag } None => { // Flag not found or disabled } } ``` ### Step 2: Include feature flag information in your events ### Step 2: Include feature flag information when capturing events If you want use your feature flag to breakdown or filter events in your [insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md), you'll need to include feature flag information in those events. This ensures that the feature flag value is attributed correctly to the event. > **Note:** This step is only required for events captured using our server-side SDKs or [API](/docs/api.md). There are two methods you can use to include feature flag information in your events: #### Method 1: Include the `$feature/feature_flag_name` property In the event properties, include `$feature/feature_flag_name: variant_key`: Rust PostHog AI ```rust let mut event = Event::new("event_name", "distinct_id_of_your_user"); event.insert_prop("$feature/feature-flag-key", "variant-key").unwrap(); client.capture(event).unwrap(); ``` #### Method 2: Fetch and include all flags Rust PostHog AI ```rust let (flags, _) = client.get_feature_flags( "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string(), None, None, None ).await.unwrap(); let mut event = Event::new("event_name", "distinct_id_of_your_user"); for (key, value) in flags { let prop_key = format!("$feature/{}", key); match value { FlagValue::Boolean(b) => event.insert_prop(&prop_key, b).unwrap(), FlagValue::String(s) => event.insert_prop(&prop_key, s).unwrap(), }; } client.capture(event).unwrap(); ``` ### Fetching all flags for a user You can fetch all flag values for a single user by calling `get_feature_flags()`. This is useful when you need to fetch multiple flag values and don't want to make multiple requests. Rust PostHog AI ```rust let (flags, payloads) = client.get_feature_flags( "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string(), None, // groups None, // person_properties None, // group_properties ).await.unwrap(); for (key, value) in flags { println!("Flag {}: {:?}", key, value); } ``` ### Feature flag payloads You can retrieve additional data associated with a feature flag using payloads: Rust PostHog AI ```rust let payload = client.get_feature_flag_payload( "flag-key".to_string(), "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string() ).await.unwrap(); if let Some(data) = payload { println!("Payload: {}", data); } ``` ### With person properties You can include person properties for more targeted flag evaluation: Rust PostHog AI ```rust use std::collections::HashMap; use serde_json::json; let mut person_props = HashMap::new(); person_props.insert("plan".to_string(), json!("enterprise")); person_props.insert("country".to_string(), json!("US")); let flag = client.get_feature_flag( "premium-feature".to_string(), "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string(), None, // groups Some(person_props), None, // group_properties ).await.unwrap(); ``` ### With groups (B2B) For B2B applications with group-based flags: Rust PostHog AI ```rust use std::collections::HashMap; use serde_json::json; let mut groups = HashMap::new(); groups.insert("company".to_string(), "company-123".to_string()); let mut group_props = HashMap::new(); let mut company_props = HashMap::new(); company_props.insert("size".to_string(), json!(500)); group_props.insert("company".to_string(), company_props); let flag = client.get_feature_flag( "b2b-feature".to_string(), "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string(), Some(groups), None, // person_properties Some(group_props), ).await.unwrap(); ``` ### Blocking client If you're using the blocking client (with `default-features = false`), the API is the same but without `.await`: Rust PostHog AI ```rust let is_enabled = client.is_feature_enabled( "flag-key".to_string(), "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string(), None, None, None ).unwrap(); ``` ### Error handling When using the PostHog SDK, handle potential errors that may occur during feature flag operations: Rust PostHog AI ```rust match client.get_feature_flag( "flag-key".to_string(), "distinct_id_of_your_user".to_string(), None, None, None ).await { Ok(Some(value)) => { // Use the flag value println!("Flag value: {:?}", value); } Ok(None) => { // Flag not found or disabled println!("Flag not found"); } Err(e) => { // Handle the error appropriately eprintln!("Error fetching feature flag: {}", e); // Fall back to default behavior } } ``` ## Elixir `PostHog.FeatureFlags.check/2` is the main function for checking a feature flag in Elixir. More documentation on it can be found in the [HexPM Docs](https://hexdocs.pm/posthog/PostHog.FeatureFlags.html). #### Boolean feature flags Elixir PostHog AI ```elixir iex> PostHog.FeatureFlags.check("example-feature-flag-1", "user123") {:ok, true} ``` It will attempt to take `distinct_id` from the context if it's not provided. Elixir PostHog AI ```elixir iex> PostHog.set_context(%{distinct_id: "user123"}) :ok iex> PostHog.FeatureFlags.check("example-feature-flag-1") {:ok, true} ``` #### Multivariate feature flags Elixir PostHog AI ```elixir iex> PostHog.FeatureFlags.check("example-feature-flag-1", "user123") {:ok, "variant2"} ``` ### Errors We'll return an error if the feature flag doesn't exist. Elixir PostHog AI ```elixir iex> PostHog.FeatureFlags.check("example-feature-flag-3", "user123") {:error, %PostHog.UnexpectedResponseError{message: "Feature flag example-feature-flag-3 was not found in the response", response: ...}} ``` You can also use `PostHog.FeatureFlags.check!/2` if you're feeling adventurous or running a script and prefer errors to be raised instead. ## .NET There are 2 steps to implement feature flags in .NET: ### Step 1: Evaluate the feature flag value #### Boolean feature flags C# PostHog AI ```csharp if (await posthog.IsFeatureEnabledAsync( "flag-key", "distinct_id_of_your_user")) { // Feature is enabled } else { // Feature is disabled } ``` #### Multivariate feature flags C# PostHog AI ```csharp var flag = await posthog.GetFeatureFlagAsync( "flag-key", "distinct_id_of_your_user" ); // replace "variant-key" with the key of your variant if (flag is { VariantKey: "variant-key"} ) { // Do something differently for this user // Optional: fetch the payload var matchedPayload = flag.Payload; } ``` > **Note:** The `GetFeatureFlagAsync` method returns a nullable `FeatureFlag` object. If the flag is not found or evaluating it is inconclusive, it returns `null`. However, there is an implicit conversion to bool to make comparisons easier. C# PostHog AI ```csharp if (await posthog.GetFeatureFlagAsync( "flag-key", "distinct_id_of_your_user") ) { // Do something differently for this user } ``` ### Step 2: Include feature flag information when capturing events If you want use your feature flag to breakdown or filter events in your [insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md), you'll need to include feature flag information in those events. This ensures that the feature flag value is attributed correctly to the event. > **Note:** This step is only required for events captured using our server-side SDKs or [API](/docs/api.md). There are two methods you can use to include feature flag information in your events: #### Method 1: Include the `$feature/feature_flag_name` property In the event properties, include `$feature/feature_flag_name: variant_key`: C# PostHog AI ```csharp posthog.Capture( "distinct_id_of_your_user", "event_name", properties: new() { // replace feature-flag-key with your flag key. // Replace "variant-key" with the key of your variant ["$feature/feature-flag-key"] = "variant-key" } ); ``` #### Method 2: Set `send_feature_flags` to `true` The `Capture()` method has an optional argument `sendFeatureFlags`, which is set to `false` by default. By setting this to `true`, feature flag information will automatically be sent with the event. Note that by doing this, PostHog will make an additional request to fetch feature flag information before capturing the event. So this method is only recommended if you don't mind the extra API call and delay. C# PostHog AI ```csharp posthog.Capture( "distinct_id_of_your_user", "event_name", properties: null, groups: null, sendFeatureFlags: true ); ``` ### Fetching all flags for a user You can fetch all flag values for a single user by calling `GetAllFeatureFlagsAsync()`. This is useful when you need to fetch multiple flag values and don't want to make multiple requests. C# PostHog AI ```csharp var flags = await posthog.GetAllFeatureFlagsAsync( "distinct_id_of_your_user" ); ``` ### Sending `$feature_flag_called` events Capturing `$feature_flag_called` events enable PostHog to know when a flag was accessed by a user and thus provide [analytics and insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md) on the flag. By default, we send a these event when: 1. You call `posthog.GetFeatureFlagAsync()` or `posthog.IsFeatureEnabledAsync()`, AND 2. It's a new user, or the value of the flag has changed. > *Note:* Tracking whether it's a new user or if a flag value has changed happens in a local cache. This means that if you reinitialize the PostHog client, the cache resets as well – causing `$feature_flag_called` events to be sent again when calling `GetFeatureFlagAsync` or `IsFeatureEnabledAsync`. PostHog is built to handle this, and so duplicate `$feature_flag_called` events won't affect your analytics. You can disable automatically the additional request to capture `$feature_flag_called` events. For example, when you don't need the analytics, or it's being called at such a high volume that sending events slows things down. To disable it, set the `sendFeatureFlagsEvent` option in your function call, like so: C# PostHog AI ```csharp var isMyFlagEnabled = await posthog.IsFeatureEnabledAsync( "flag-key", "distinct_id_of_your_user", options: new FeatureFlagOptions { SendFeatureFlagEvents = true } ); // will not send `$feature_flag_called` events ``` ### Advanced: Overriding server properties Sometimes, you may want to evaluate feature flags using [person properties](/docs/product-analytics/person-properties.md), [groups](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md), or group properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can provide properties to evaluate the flag with by using the `person properties`, `groups`, and `group properties` arguments. PostHog will then use these values to evaluate the flag, instead of any properties currently stored on your PostHog server. For example: C# PostHog AI ```csharp // Overriding Person Properties var personFlag = await posthog.GetFeatureFlagAsync( "flag-key", "distinct_id_of_the_user", personProperties: new() {["property_name"] = "value"}); // Overriding Group Properties var groupFlag = await posthog.GetFeatureFlagAsync( "flag-key", "distinct_id_of_the_user", options: new FeatureFlagOptions { Groups = [ new Group("your_group_type", "your_group_id") { ["group_property_name"] = "your group value" }, new Group( "another_group_type", "another_group_id") { ["group_property_name"] = "another group value" } ] }); // Overriding both Person and Group Properties var bothFlag = await posthog.GetFeatureFlagAsync( "flag-key", "distinct_id_of_the_user", options: new FeatureFlagOptions { PersonProperties = new() { ["property_name"] = "value" }, Groups = [ new Group("your_group_type", "your_group_id") { ["group_property_name"] = "your group value" }, new Group( "another_group_type", "another_group_id") { ["group_property_name"] = "another group value" } ] }); ``` ### Overriding GeoIP properties By default, a user's GeoIP properties are set using the IP address they use to capture events on the frontend. You may want to override the these properties when evaluating feature flags. A common reason to do this is when you're not using PostHog on your frontend, so the user has no GeoIP properties. You can override GeoIP properties by including them in the `person_properties` parameter when evaluating feature flags. This is useful when you're evaluating flags on your backend and want to use the client's location instead of your server's location. The following GeoIP properties can be overridden: - `$geoip_country_code` - `$geoip_country_name` - `$geoip_city_name` - `$geoip_city_confidence` - `$geoip_continent_code` - `$geoip_continent_name` - `$geoip_latitude` - `$geoip_longitude` - `$geoip_postal_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_1_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_2_name` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_code` - `$geoip_subdivision_3_name` - `$geoip_time_zone` Simply include any of these properties in the `person_properties` parameter alongside your other person properties when calling feature flags. ## API There are 3 steps to implement feature flags using the PostHog API: ### Step 1: Evaluate the feature flag value using `flags` `flags` is the endpoint used to determine if a given flag is enabled for a certain user or not. #### Request PostHog AI ### Terminal ```shell # Basic request (flags only) curl -v -L --header "Content-Type: application/json" -d ' { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user", "groups" : { "group_type": "group_id" } }' "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2" # With configuration (flags + PostHog config) curl -v -L --header "Content-Type: application/json" -d ' { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user", "groups" : { "group_type": "group_id" } }' "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2&config=true" ``` ### Python ```python import requests import json # Basic request (flags only) url = "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2" headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json" } payload = { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "user distinct id", "groups": { "group_type": "group_id" } } response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload)) print(response.json()) # With configuration (flags + PostHog config) url_with_config = "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2&config=true" response_with_config = requests.post(url_with_config, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload)) print(response_with_config.json()) ``` ### Node.js ```javascript import fetch from "node-fetch"; async function sendFlagsRequest() { const headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json", }; const payload = { api_key: "", distinct_id: "user distinct id", groups: { group_type: "group_id", }, }; // Basic request (flags only) const url = "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2"; const response = await fetch(url, { method: "POST", headers: headers, body: JSON.stringify(payload), }); const data = await response.json(); console.log(data); // With configuration (flags + PostHog config) const urlWithConfig = "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2&config=true"; const responseWithConfig = await fetch(urlWithConfig, { method: "POST", headers: headers, body: JSON.stringify(payload), }); const dataWithConfig = await responseWithConfig.json(); console.log(dataWithConfig); } sendFlagsRequest(); ``` > **Note:** The `groups` key is only required for group-based feature flags. If you use it, replace `group_type` and `group_id` with the values for your group such as `company: "Twitter"`. #### Using evaluation context tags and runtime filtering without SDKs When making direct API calls to the `/flags` endpoint, you can control which flags are evaluated using evaluation context tags and runtime filtering. ##### Evaluation contexts To filter flags by evaluation context, include the `evaluation_contexts` field in your request body: > **Note:** The legacy parameter `evaluation_environments` is also supported for backward compatibility. PostHog AI ### Terminal ```shell curl -v -L --header "Content-Type: application/json" -d ' { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user", "evaluation_contexts": ["production", "web"] }' "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2" ``` ### Python ```python import requests import json url = "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2" headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json" } payload = { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "user distinct id", "evaluation_contexts": ["production", "web"] } response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload)) print(response.json()) ``` ### JavaScript ```javascript const response = await fetch("https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2", { method: "POST", headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", }, body: JSON.stringify({ api_key: "", distinct_id: "user-distinct-id", evaluation_contexts: ["production", "web"] }), }); const data = await response.json(); ``` Only flags where at least one evaluation tag matches (or flags with no tags at all) will be returned. For example: - Flag with evaluation context tags `["production", "api", "backend"]` + request with `["production", "web"]` = ✅ Flag evaluates ("production" matches) - Flag with evaluation context tags `["staging", "api"]` + request with `["production", "web"]` = ❌ Flag doesn't evaluate (no tags match) - Flag with evaluation context tags `["web", "mobile"]` + request with `["production", "web"]` = ✅ Flag evaluates ("web" matches) - Flag with no evaluation context tags = ✅ Always evaluates (backward compatibility) ##### Runtime detection Evaluation runtime (server vs. client) is automatically detected based on your request headers and user-agent. This determines which flags are available based on their runtime setting (server-only, client-only, or all). **How runtime is detected:** 1. **User-Agent patterns** - The system analyzes the User-Agent header: - **Client-side patterns**: `Mozilla/`, `Chrome/`, `Safari/`, `Firefox/`, `Edge/` (browsers), or mobile SDKs like `posthog-android/`, `posthog-ios/`, `posthog-react-native/`, `posthog-flutter/` - **Server-side patterns**: `posthog-python/`, `posthog-ruby/`, `posthog-php/`, `posthog-java/`, `posthog-go/`, `posthog-node/`, `posthog-dotnet/`, `posthog-elixir/`, `python-requests/`, `curl/` 2. **Browser-specific headers** - Presence of these headers indicates client-side: - `Origin` header - `Referer` header - `Sec-Fetch-Mode` header - `Sec-Fetch-Site` header 3. **Default behavior** - If runtime can't be determined, the system includes flags with no runtime requirement and those set to "all" **Examples of runtime detection:** JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript // Browser fetch - Detected as CLIENT runtime // Will receive: client-only flags + "all" flags // Won't receive: server-only flags const response = await fetch("https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2", { method: "POST", headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", // Browser automatically adds Origin, Referer, Sec-Fetch-* headers }, body: JSON.stringify({ api_key: "", distinct_id: "user-id" }) }); ``` Python PostHog AI ```python # Python requests - Detected as SERVER runtime # Will receive: server-only flags + "all" flags # Won't receive: client-only flags import requests response = requests.post( "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2", json={ "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "user-id" } # python-requests/ in User-Agent indicates server-side ) ``` Terminal PostHog AI ```shell # curl - Detected as SERVER runtime # Will receive: server-only flags + "all" flags # Won't receive: client-only flags curl -v -L --header "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{ "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "user-id" }' "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2" # curl/ in User-Agent indicates server-side ``` JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript // Node.js with custom User-Agent - Control runtime detection const response = await fetch("https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2", { method: "POST", headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", "User-Agent": "posthog-node/3.0.0" // Explicitly indicates server-side }, body: JSON.stringify({ api_key: "", distinct_id: "user-id" }) }); ``` ##### Combining evaluation context tags and runtime filtering Both features work together as sequential filters: JavaScript PostHog AI ```javascript // Example: Production web client const response = await fetch("https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2", { method: "POST", headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", // Browser headers will trigger client runtime detection }, body: JSON.stringify({ api_key: "", distinct_id: "user-id", evaluation_contexts: ["production", "web"] }) }); // This request will only receive flags that: // 1. Have runtime set to "client" OR "all" (due to browser headers) // AND // 2. Have evaluation context tags matching "production" OR "web" (or no tags) // Note: You can also use the legacy "evaluation_environments" parameter ``` This allows precise control over which flags are evaluated in different contexts, helping optimize costs and improve security by ensuring flags only evaluate where intended. #### Response The response varies depending on whether you include the `config=true` query parameter: ##### Basic response (`/flags?v=2`) Use this endpoint when you only need to evaluate feature flags. It returns a response with just the flag evaluation results. > **Note:** If a feature flag is associated with an experiment that has a [holdout group](/docs/experiments/holdouts.md), users in the holdout receive a variant value in the format `holdout-{holdout_id}` (e.g., `holdout-727`). You can detect holdout users by checking if the variant starts with `holdout-`. JSON PostHog AI ```json { "flags": { "my-awesome-flag": { "key": "my-awesome-flag", "enabled": true, "reason": { "code": "condition_match", "condition_index": 0, "description": "Condition set 1 matched" }, "metadata": { "id": 1, "version": 1, "payload": "{\"example\": \"json\", \"payload\": \"value\"}" } }, "my-multivariate-flag" :{ "key":"my-multivariate-flag", "enabled": true, "variant": "some-string-value", "reason": { "code": "condition_match", "condition_index": 1, "description": "Condition set 2 matched" }, "metadata": { "id": 2, "version": 42, } }, "flag-thats-not-on": { "key": "flag-thats-not-on", "enabled": false, "reason": { "code": "no_condition_match", "condition_index": 0, "description": "No condition sets matched" }, "metadata": { "id": 3, "version": 1 } } }, "errorsWhileComputingFlags": false, "requestId": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000" } ``` ##### Full response with configuration (`/flags?v=2&config=true`) Use this endpoint when you need both feature flag evaluation and PostHog configuration information (useful for client-side SDKs that need to initialize PostHog): JSON PostHog AI ```json { "config": { "enable_collect_everything": true }, "toolbarParams": {}, "errorsWhileComputingFlags": false, "isAuthenticated": false, "requestId": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000", "supportedCompression": [ "gzip", "lz64" ], "flags": { "my-awesome-flag": { "key": "my-awesome-flag", "enabled": true, "reason": { "code": "condition_match", "condition_index": 0, "description": "Condition set 1 matched" }, "metadata": { "id": 1, "version": 1, "payload": "{\"example\": \"json\", \"payload\": \"value\"}" } }, "my-multivariate-flag" :{ "key":"my-multivariate-flag", "enabled": true, "variant": "some-string-value", "reason": { "code": "condition_match", "condition_index": 1, "description": "Condition set 2 matched" }, "metadata": { "id": 2, "version": 42, } }, "flag-thats-not-on": { "key": "flag-thats-not-on", "enabled": false, "reason": { "code": "no_condition_match", "condition_index": 0, "description": "No condition sets matched" }, "metadata": { "id": 3, "version": 1 } } } } ``` > **Note:** `errorsWhileComputingFlags` will return `true` if we didn't manage to compute some flags (for example, if there's an [ongoing incident involving flag evaluation](https://status.posthog.com/)). > > This enables partial updates to currently active flags in your clients. #### Quota limiting If your organization exceeds its feature flag quota, the `/flags` endpoint will return a modified response with `quotaLimited`. For basic response (`/flags?v=2`): JSON PostHog AI ```json { "flags": {}, "errorsWhileComputingFlags": false, "quotaLimited": ["feature_flags"], "requestId": "d4d89b14-9619-4627-adf2-01b761691c2e" } ``` For full response with configuration (`/flags?v=2&config=true`): JSON PostHog AI ```json { "config": { "enable_collect_everything": true }, "toolbarParams": {}, "isAuthenticated": false, "supportedCompression": [ "gzip", "lz64" ], "flags": {}, "errorsWhileComputingFlags": false, "quotaLimited": ["feature_flags"], "requestId": "d4d89b14-9619-4627-adf2-01b761691c2e" // ... other fields, not relevant to feature flags } ``` When you receive a response with `quotaLimited` containing `"feature_flags"`, it means: 1. Your feature flag evaluations have been temporarily paused because you've exceeded your feature flag quota 2. If you want to continue evaluating feature flags, you can increase your quota in [your billing settings](https://us.posthog.com/organization/billing) under **Feature flags & Experiments** or [contact support](https://us.posthog.com/#panel=support%3Asupport%3Abilling%3A%3Atrue) ### Step 2: Include feature flag information when capturing events If you want use your feature flag to breakdown or filter events in your [insights](/docs/product-analytics/insights.md), you'll need to include feature flag information in those events. This ensures that the feature flag value is attributed correctly to the event. > **Note:** This step is only required for events captured using our server-side SDKs or [API](/docs/api.md). To do this, include the `$feature/feature_flag_name` property in your event: PostHog AI ### Terminal ```shell curl -v -L --header "Content-Type: application/json" -d ' { "api_key": "", "event": "your_event_name", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user", "properties": { "$feature/feature-flag-key": "variant-key" # Replace feature-flag-key with your flag key. Replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant } }' https://us.i.posthog.com/i/v0/e/ ``` ### Python ```python import requests import json url = "https://us.i.posthog.com/i/v0/e/" headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json" } payload = { "api_key": "", "event": "your_event_name", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user, "properties": { "$feature/feature-flag-key": "variant-key" # Replace feature-flag-key with your flag key. Replace 'variant-key' with the key of your variant } } response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload)) print(response) ``` ### Step 3: Send a `$feature_flag_called` event To track usage of your feature flag and view related analytics in PostHog, submit the `$feature_flag_called` event whenever you check a feature flag value in your code. You need to include two properties with this event: 1. `$feature_flag_response`: This is the name of the variant the user has been assigned to e.g., "control" or "test" 2. `$feature_flag`: This is the key of the feature flag in your experiment. PostHog AI ### Terminal ```shell curl -v -L --header "Content-Type: application/json" -d ' { "api_key": "", "event": "$feature_flag_called", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user", "properties": { "$feature_flag": "feature-flag-key", "$feature_flag_response": "variant-name" } }' https://us.i.posthog.com/i/v0/e/ ``` ### Python ```python import requests import json url = "https://us.i.posthog.com/i/v0/e/" headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json" } payload = { "api_key": "", "event": "feature_flag_called", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user, "properties": { "$feature_flag": "feature-flag-key", "$feature_flag_response": "variant-name" } } response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload)) print(response) ``` ### Advanced: Overriding server properties Sometimes, you may want to evaluate feature flags using [person properties](/docs/product-analytics/person-properties.md), [groups](/docs/product-analytics/group-analytics.md), or group properties that haven't been ingested yet, or were set incorrectly earlier. You can provide properties to evaluate the flag with by using the `person properties`, `groups`, and `group properties` arguments. PostHog will then use these values to evaluate the flag, instead of any properties currently stored on your PostHog server. For example: PostHog AI ### Terminal ```shell curl -v -L --header "Content-Type: application/json" -d ' { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user", "groups" : { # Required only for group-based feature flags "group_type": "group_id" # Replace "group_type" with the name of your group type. Replace "group_id" with the id of your group. }, "person_properties": {"": ""}, # Optional. Include any properties used to calculate the value of the feature flag. "group_properties": {"group type": {"":""}} # Optional. Include any properties used to calculate the value of the feature flag. }' https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2 ``` ### Python ```python import requests import json url = "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2" headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json" } payload = { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user", "groups" : { # Required only for group-based feature flags "group_type": "group_id" # Replace "group_type" with the name of your group type. Replace "group_id" with the id of your group. }, "person_properties": {"": ""}, # Optional. Include any properties used to calculate the value of the feature flag. "group_properties": {"group type": {"":""}} # Optional. Include any properties used to calculate the value of the feature flag. } response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload)) print(response.json()) ``` ### Overriding GeoIP properties By default, a user's GeoIP properties are set using the IP address they use to capture events on the frontend. You may want to override the these properties when evaluating feature flags. A common reason to do this is when you're not using PostHog on your frontend, so the user has no GeoIP properties. To override the GeoIP properties used to evaluate a feature flag, provide an IP address in the `HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR` when making your `/flags` request: PostHog AI ### Terminal ```shell curl -v -L \ --header "Content-Type: application/json" \ --header "HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR: the_client_ip_address_to_use " \ -d ' { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user" }' https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2 ``` ### Python ```python import requests import json url = "https://us.i.posthog.com/flags?v=2" headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json", "HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR": "the_client_ip_address_to_use" } payload = { "api_key": "", "distinct_id": "distinct_id_of_your_user" } response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload)) print(response.json()) ``` The list of properties that this overrides: 1. `$geoip_city_name` 2. `$geoip_country_name` 3. `$geoip_country_code` 4. `$geoip_continent_name` 5. `$geoip_continent_code` 6. `$geoip_postal_code` 7. `$geoip_time_zone` ### Community questions Ask a question ### Was this page useful? 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