woocommerce/plugins/woocommerce-blocks/docs/internal-developers/blocks/feature-flags-and-experimental-interfaces.md

# Features Flags and Experimental Interfaces <!-- omit in toc -->

## Table of contents <!-- omit in toc -->

-   [Blocks behind flags](#blocks-behind-flags)
    -   [Feature plugin flag](#feature-plugin-flag)
    -   [Experimental flag](#experimental-flag)
-   [Features behind flags](#features-behind-flags)
    -   [Feature plugin flag](#feature-plugin-flag-1)
    -   [Experimental plugin flag](#experimental-plugin-flag)
-   [Processes and commands that use a flag](#processes-and-commands-that-use-a-flag)
-   [Usages of `__experimental` prefix](#usages-of-__experimental-prefix)
    -   [PHP filters and actions](#php-filters-and-actions)
    -   [JS methods](#js-methods)
    -   [Slots](#slots)
    -   [Misc](#misc)
-   [Usages of `experimental` prefix](#usages-of-experimental-prefix)

We have feature gating system setup in our plugin that defines what is accessible to the public and what is not, it has three phases:

-   **Core flag `WOOCOMMERCE_BLOCKS_PHASE=1`:** anything that is not hidden behind a flag, falls under this category, and it contains all of the code that runs on WooCommerce Core plugin.
-   **Feature plugin flag `WOOCOMMERCE_BLOCKS_PHASE=2`**: anything that is behind this flag is code that is shipped to our [feature plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woo-gutenberg-products-block/), the files of blocks behind this flag are also present in WooCommerce Core, just not active.
-   **Experimental flag `WOOCOMMERCE_BLOCKS_PHASE=3`**: This flag contains things that we're not shipping yet, so unfinished work mostly. These features are only available in developer builds of the plugin.

We also use an `__experimental` prefix for any experimental interfaces. This is a signal to those reading our code that it should not be implemented in for production use. Currently this prefix is used in the following ways:

-   Prefixing references that are experimental. An example would be PHP action or filter slugs.
-   Prefixing functions or methods that are experimental.

## Blocks behind flags

The majority of our feature flagging is blocks, this is a list of them:

### Feature plugin flag

### Experimental flag

-   Cart block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/index.js#L44) | [PHP flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/961c0c476d4228a218859c658c42f9b6eebfdec4/src/BlockTypesController.php#L182)).
-   Cart Express Checkout block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/inner-blocks/cart-express-payment-block/index.tsx#L13)).
-   Cart Items block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/inner-blocks/cart-items-block/index.tsx#L13)).
-   Cart Line Items block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/inner-blocks/cart-line-items-block/index.tsx#L13)).
-   Cart Order Summary block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/inner-blocks/cart-order-summary-block/index.tsx#L14)).
-   Cart Totals block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/inner-blocks/cart-totals-block/index.tsx#L13)).
-   Empty Cart block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/inner-blocks/empty-cart-block/index.tsx#L13)).
-   Filled Cart block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/inner-blocks/filled-cart-block/index.tsx#L13)).
-   Cart Proceed to checkout block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8516e87bddee6c07a080c934f3d8cc0683adef06/assets/js/blocks/cart-checkout/cart-i2/inner-blocks/proceed-to-checkout-block/index.tsx#L14)).
-   Single Product block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/9b76ea7a1680e68cc20bfee01078e43ccfc996bd/assets/js/blocks/single-product/index.js#L43) | [PHP flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/4a1ee97eb97011458174e93e44a9b7ad2f10ca36/src/BlockTypesController.php#L181) | [webpack flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/341be1f56071fbd4b5ff975e8788d65a09512df2/bin/webpack-entries.js#L57-L59)).
-   ⚛️ Add to cart ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/add-to-cart/index.js#L29-L32)).
-   ⚛️ Product category list ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/category-list/index.js#L29-L32)).
-   ⚛️ Product tag list ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/tag-list/index.js#L29-L33)).

## Features behind flags

We also have individual features or code blocks behind a feature flag, this is a list of them:

### Feature plugin flag

-   ⚛️ Product Price new controls ([JS flag 1](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/price/attributes.js#L13-L44) | [JS flag 2-1](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8d2f0ad8ade2c7217769b431f93de76d6cfacf6e/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/price/block.js#L116) | [JS flag 2-2](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8d2f0ad8ade2c7217769b431f93de76d6cfacf6e/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/price/block.js#L114) | [JS flag 2-3](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8d2f0ad8ade2c7217769b431f93de76d6cfacf6e/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/price/block.js#L91) | [JS flag 2-4](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8d2f0ad8ade2c7217769b431f93de76d6cfacf6e/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/price/block.js#L95) | [JS flag 2-5](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/8d2f0ad8ade2c7217769b431f93de76d6cfacf6e/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/price/block.js#L106) | [JS flag 3-2](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/price/edit.js#L114-L131)).
-   ⚛️ Product Title new controls ([JS flag 1](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/title/attributes.js#L21-L40) | [JS flag 2-1](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/title/block.js#L70-L72) | [JS flag 2-2](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/title/block.js#L94-L95) | [JS flag 2-3](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/title/block.js#L104) | [JS flag 3-1](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/title/edit.js#L47-L54) | [JS flag 3-2](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/title/edit.js#L77-L107) | [JS flag 3-3](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/title/edit.js#L116-L129)).
-   Utility function to pass styles to a block ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/9ebddbc5d21eb3cc67fedddbccbd86453313eb64/assets/js/atomic/utils/block-styling.js#L6-L12)).

### Experimental plugin flag

-   Inserting Product Element blocks globally from the inserter ([JS flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/assets/js/atomic/blocks/product-elements/shared/config.js#L25-L27)).

## Processes and commands that use a flag

-   `npm run build:deploy` uses the feature plugin flag ([env flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/c0de18ec0a798c072420c67a689e4cc4d3ac77c9/package.json#L28)).
-   GitHub actions uses the experimental flag when running automated tests ([env flags 1](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/4cedb65367be0d1c4c1f9dd9c016e3b1325cf92e/.github/workflows/php-js-e2e-tests.yml) | [env flags 2](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/4cedb65367be0d1c4c1f9dd9c016e3b1325cf92e/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml)).
-   webpack creates a `blocks.ini` when running ([env flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/961c0c476d4228a218859c658c42f9b6eebfdec4/bin/webpack-configs.js#L110-L119)).
-   webpack filters out experimental blocks when building. ([env flag](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b3a9753d8b7dae18b36025d09fbff835b8365de0/bin/webpack-entries.js#L61-L66)).
-   certain E2E tests are skipped if the environment is not met ([env flag 1](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/961c0c476d4228a218859c658c42f9b6eebfdec4/tests/e2e/specs/backend/cart.test.js#L26) | [env flag 2](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/961c0c476d4228a218859c658c42f9b6eebfdec4/tests/e2e/specs/backend/checkout.test.js#L26) | [env flag 3](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/961c0c476d4228a218859c658c42f9b6eebfdec4/tests/e2e/specs/backend/mini-cart.test.js#L18) | [env flag 4](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/961c0c476d4228a218859c658c42f9b6eebfdec4/tests/e2e/specs/backend/single-product.test.js#L8) | [env flag 5](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/961c0c476d4228a218859c658c42f9b6eebfdec4/tests/e2e/specs/frontend/cart.test.js#L29) | [env flag 6](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/961c0c476d4228a218859c658c42f9b6eebfdec4/tests/e2e/specs/frontend/checkout.test.js#L32)).

## Usages of `__experimental` prefix

### PHP filters and actions

-   `__experimental_woocommerce_blocks_payment_gateway_features_list` hook that allows modification of the features supported by PayPal Standard. ([experimental hook](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/4cedb65367be0d1c4c1f9dd9c016e3b1325cf92e/src/Payments/Integrations/PayPal.php#L86)).
-   **Deprecated** - `__experimental_woocommerce_blocks_checkout_update_order_meta` hook when the draft order has been created or updated from the cart and is now ready for extensions to modify the metadata ([experimental hook](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/pull/3686/files#diff-af2c90fa556cc086b780c8fad99b68373d87fd6007e6e2ff1b4c68ebe9ccb551R377-R393)). [Deprecated in PR 5017](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/pull/5017).
-   **Deprecated** - `__experimental_woocommerce_blocks_checkout_update_order_from_request` hook gives extensions the chance to update orders based on the data in the request ([deprecated experimental hook](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/d469a45d572f2c52d7917707c492dfb905ddfac0/src/StoreApi/Routes/Checkout.php#L466-L477)). [Deprecated in PR 5015](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/pull/5015).
-   **Deprecated** - `__experimental_woocommerce_blocks_checkout_order_processed` hook when order has completed processing and is ready for payment ([deprecated experimental hook](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/accd1bbf402e043b9fc322f118ab614ba7437c92/src/StoreApi/Routes/Checkout.php#L237)). [Deprecated in PR 5014](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/pull/5014).
-   `__experimental_woocommerce_blocks_add_data_attributes_to_namespace` hook that allows 3PD to add a namespace of blocks to receive block attributes as `data-` attributes ([experimental property](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/4a1ee97eb97011458174e93e44a9b7ad2f10ca36/src/BlockTypesController.php#L88)).
-   `__experimental_woocommerce_blocks_add_data_attributes_to_block` hook that allows 3PD to add a block to recieve block attributes as `data-` attributes ([experimental property](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/4a1ee97eb97011458174e93e44a9b7ad2f10ca36/src/BlockTypesController.php#L97)).

### JS methods

-   `__experimentalDeRegisterPaymentMethod` function used to deregister a payment method, only used in tests ([experimental function](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-blocks/blob/f27456dd00fa0b21b29a935943defb18351edf48/assets/js/blocks-registry/payment-methods/registry.ts#L110-L114)).
-   `__experimentalDeRegisterExpressPaymentMethod` function used to deregister an express payment method, only used in tests ([experimental function](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-blocks/blob/f27456dd00fa0b21b29a935943defb18351edf48/assets/js/blocks-registry/payment-methods/registry.ts#L116-L120)).

### Slots

-   `__experimentalOrderMeta` slot that allows extensions to add content to the order meta in the Cart and Checkout blocks ([experimental slot](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/4cedb65367be0d1c4c1f9dd9c016e3b1325cf92e/packages/checkout/order-meta/index.js#L12)).
-   `__experimentalOrderShippingPackages` slot that allows extensions to add content to the shipping packages in the Cart and Checkout blocks ([experimental slot](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/4cedb65367be0d1c4c1f9dd9c016e3b1325cf92e/packages/checkout/order-shipping-packages/index.js#L12)).
-   `__experimentalDiscountsMeta` slot that allows extensions to add content to the shipping packages in the Cart and Checkout blocks ([experimental slot](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/b6a9cc6342696f47cc08686522bdaca7989a6bc7/packages/checkout/discounts-meta/index.js)).

### Misc

-   `__experimental_woocommerce_blocks_hidden` property in a Cart item data array that allows overwriting the `hidden` property. This is useful to make some cart item data visible/hidden depending if it needs to be displayed in Blocks or shortcode ([experimental property](https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gutenberg-products-block/blob/9c4288b0ee46960bdc2bf8ef351d05ac23073b0c/src/StoreApi/Schemas/CartItemSchema.php#L439-L441)).

## Usages of `experimental` prefix

`useStoreEvents` makes use of an `experimental__` prefix for wp-hook actions (since `__experimental` is not a valid prefix in that context).

-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-` is used for store events.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-` is used for checkout events.

Current list of events:

-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-cart-add-item` - Fired when an item is added to the cart.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-cart-set-item-quantity` - Fired when cart item quantity is changed by the customer.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-cart-remove-item` - Fired when a cart item is removed from the cart.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-product-view-link` - Fired when a product link is clicked.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-product-list-render` - Fired when a product list is rendered.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-product-search` - Fired when a search is submitted.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-store-notice-create` - Fired when a store notice is created.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-product-render` - Fired when a single product block is rendered.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-submit` - Fired when the checkout form is submitted.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-set-selected-shipping-rate` - Fired when a shipping rate is chosen on checkout.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-set-active-payment-method` - Fired when a payment method is chosen on checkout.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-render-checkout-form` - Fired when the checkout form is rendered.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-set-email-address` - Fired when an email address is added during checkout.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-set-shipping-address` - Fired when a shipping address is added during checkout.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-set-billing-address` - Fired when a billing address is added during checkout.
-   `experimental__woocommerce_blocks-checkout-set-phone-number` - Fired when a phone number is added during checkout.