> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.jaza.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Features — define action costs in the dashboard

> Dashboard features define what each billable action costs. Gate in the client with JazaActionButton, meter with consume on the server.

A **feature** is a named billable action with a default `creditsCost` (for example `SEND_MESSAGE` → 5 credits). You configure features under **Features** in the [dashboard](https://jaza.dev/dashboard) — not via a separate rate-card API.

## Shared responsibilities

| Layer                       | Responsibility                                                             |
| --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dashboard                   | Define `featureCode`, description, and default `creditsCost`               |
| Client (`JazaActionButton`) | **Gate only** — check balance vs cost; open top-up when short; never debit |
| Server (`jaza.consume`)     | **Meter** — debit the wallet with the secret key after the billable work   |

Both sides must use the **same** `featureCode` string.

## Fixed vs variable cost

| Pattern       | How you call consume                                                                                 |
| ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Fixed cost    | `consume({ featureCode, idempotencyKey })` — uses dashboard `creditsCost`                            |
| Variable cost | `consume({ featureCode, credits, idempotencyKey })` — overrides amount, still attributes the feature |
| Raw debit     | `consume({ credits, idempotencyKey })` — no feature attribution                                      |

Variable metering is useful for AI tokens, message length, or other usage that cannot be a single fixed cost.

## Next steps

* [Bundles](/concepts/bundles) · [Gating actions](/guides/gating-actions) · [Consume credits](/guides/consume-credits) · [Dashboard setup](/guides/dashboard-setup)