Implement Feature Flags Using a Google Sheet or Database

Feature flags let you change workflow behavior -- enable a new code path, toggle a notification, switch between API versions -- without editing the workflow itself. Store flags in a Google Sheet or database table and read them at the start of your workflow. This decouples deployment from configuration.

Real-world example: A workflow processes orders differently based on feature flags stored in a Google Sheet. The operations team can toggle flags without touching n8n.

Google Sheet structure ("Feature Flags" sheet):

Flag Name	Value	Description	Updated By	Updated At
enable_new_shipping	true	Use new shipping rate API	ops-lead	2025-03-10
email_notifications	true	Send order confirmation emails	marketing	2025-03-08
max_retry_attempts	5	Max retries for payment API	eng-lead	2025-03-01
maintenance_mode	false	Reject all new orders	ops-lead	2025-02-28
ab_test_checkout	B	Checkout flow variant A or B	product	2025-03-12

Read flags at workflow start:

[Trigger] → [Google Sheets: Read "Feature Flags"] → [Code: Parse Flags] → [Rest of Workflow]
```text
Code node to parse flags into a usable object:

```javascript
const flagRows = $input.all();
const flags = {};

for (const row of flagRows) {
  const name = row.json['Flag Name'];
  let value = row.json['Value'];

  // Type coercion
  if (value === 'true') value = true;
  else if (value === 'false') value = false;
  else if (!isNaN(value) && value !== '') value = Number(value);

  flags[name] = value;
}

return [{ json: { flags } }];
```text
Use flags in downstream IF nodes:

```text
// IF node: Check maintenance mode
{{ $('Parse Flags').first().json.flags.maintenance_mode === true }}
  → true: Respond with "System under maintenance" and exit
  → false: Continue processing

// IF node: Choose shipping API
{{ $('Parse Flags').first().json.flags.enable_new_shipping === true }}
  → true: Use new shipping rate API
  → false: Use legacy shipping rate API

// Expression in Retry settings
Max retries: {{ $('Parse Flags').first().json.flags.max_retry_attempts }}
```text
> **Tip: Cache Flags for Performance**
>
> If your workflow runs frequently (e.g., per webhook), reading a Google Sheet on every execution adds latency. Use a scheduled workflow that reads flags every 5 minutes and writes them to an n8n static data store or a fast key-value store like Redis.

Feature flags give non-technical team members a safe control panel for workflow behavior without risking accidental workflow edits.

**Related:** [Always Set an Error Workflow on Every Production Workflow](../error-handling-and-reliability/01-always-set-an-error-workflow-on-every-production-workflow.md) | [Use "Pin Data" to Freeze Node Output](../testing-and-debugging/01-use-pin-data-to-freeze-node-output.md)