Okuzeka
Software Engineering vocabulary · Agile and Team Workflow

Feature

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

/ˈfiːtʃər/nounCore term

In software engineering, feature means: A piece of functionality that users can see or use, such as a search bar, dark mode or the option to export a report.

In Turkish: özellik, işlev

How it is used

Teams plan, build, ship and release features. You hear it in planning meetings ('Is this feature in scope?'), in branch names such as feature/login and in phrases like 'feature request' and 'feature freeze'.

Example sentences

  1. The export feature is almost done; I just need to handle large files.

  2. A customer sent a feature request for two-factor login.

  3. We're in a feature freeze until the release, so only bug fixes are allowed.

Common collocations

  • build a feature
  • ship a feature
  • feature request
  • feature freeze
  • new feature
  • requirementSomething the software must do, or a condition it must meet, as agreed with users, clients or the product team.
  • user storyA short description of a feature from the user's point of view, often written as 'As a [type of user], I want [goal] so that [reason]'.
  • shipTo release a product or feature so that real users can use it. The word is borrowed from the idea of sending goods to customers.
  • releaseA version of a product that is made available to users, or the act of making it available. Also a verb: to release a new version.
  • backlogThe ordered list of work a team has not started yet, such as features, bugs and improvements, with the most important items at the top.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Agile and Team Workflow

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: