: Reinstalling or repairing specific features rather than the entire application if files become corrupt.
When authoring an installation package , developers define features in the Feature Table of the MSI database. This allows for:
For managing built-in (like Hyper-V or WSL) rather than application features, administrators typically use tools like DISM or PowerShell cmdlets like Install-WindowsFeature . Windows Installer Features - Win32 apps - Microsoft Learn
: Features are designed from the user's perspective. Users can select which features they want to install via the installer's SelectionTree Control .
: Developers can author packages that allow features to be "advertised" but not fully installed until the user attempts to use them for the first time. Common Use Cases for Developers
: Features can have a parent-child relationship. If a child feature is selected for installation, its parent feature is automatically included.
: While users see features, the installer actually manages components . One feature can consist of multiple components, which are the smallest coherent units (files, registry keys, etc.) that the installer installs or removes together.
: Installing certain features only if specific launch conditions (like a specific OS version) are met.