FeatureID

Featureid (often written as featureId or feature_id) is a term used to denote a unique identifier assigned to a feature within a data model, software system, or geographic dataset. The core idea is to distinguish one feature from all others in the same collection by a stable reference.

In geographic information systems, a feature ID identifies a specific feature in a vector layer, such as a point, line, or polygon. These IDs are typically assigned by the data producer and may be stable within a dataset, but can change if features are edited, reordered, or the dataset is reindexed. Feature IDs should not be relied upon as permanent keys for public interfaces if the dataset undergoes restructuring.

In software and API contexts, featureId serves as an identifier for a feature or capability within a product, often used to reference, enable, or disable features via feature flags, configuration systems, or APIs. For example, a featureId like "new-dashboard" might trigger access to a beta UI. In these cases, IDs are chosen to be stable within a release or environment and may be strings or GUIDs.

In databases and data models, featureid may appear as a column name containing identifiers for features of an entity, potentially acting as a surrogate or natural key depending on the schema. Best practices include ensuring global uniqueness, documenting the ID lifecycle, and preferring stable identifiers (such as UUIDs) for distributed systems.

Overall, the exact meaning of featureid depends on the context, but it consistently refers to a unique reference that identifies a feature within a collection.