Deactivatable

Deactivatable is an adjective describing a feature, component, or process that can be deactivated. It implies that the item can be turned off, paused, or disabled without being deleted or permanently removed, preserving the possibility of quick restoration.

In software, deactivatable features can be toggled off through user settings, configuration flags, feature toggles, or access control. The underlying data or state may be retained so that reactivation can resume normal operation without data recovery. In hardware and safety contexts, deactivatable mechanisms are disabled via switches, software commands, or interlocks, allowing temporary suspension while keeping the component installed and ready for reactivation.

Design and management considerations include ensuring reversibility, preserving state, implementing access controls, maintaining audit logs of deactivation actions, and evaluating the impact on security, privacy, and compliance. Deactivation should usually be distinguishable from deletion or decommissioning to avoid accidental data loss or functional gaps.

Common examples include user or service accounts that can be deactivated without deletion; feature flags that disable capabilities for testing or phased releases; scheduled or conditional tasks that can be paused; and safety interlocks in hardware that engage a safe state without removing equipment. The term highlights the capability to suspend operation temporarily while keeping the option to restore full functionality later.