Here are some system design interview questions that you may encounter if you are applying for roles related to software engineering, system architecture, or infrastructure:
- Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly: Develop a user-friendly interface, an algorithm for generating unique shortcodes, and robust infrastructure for efficient redirection; incorporate features like custom short URLs, link expiration, and analytics.
- Design a caching system to improve website performance: Develop a caching system with algorithms for efficient cache management, support for both full-page and object caching, and distributed architecture for scalability; implement monitoring tools and logging for optimization and error handling.
- Create a scalable and fault-tolerant distributed file system: Design a system with distributed file allocation, robust data replication strategies, and fault recovery mechanisms; incorporate features like automatic sharding, load balancing, and distributed namespace for scalability and fault tolerance.
- Design a scalable and efficient recommendation system: Architect a system with data collection, personalized recommendation algorithms, and feedback mechanisms; consider factors like diversity, serendipity, and privacy while implementing A/B testing for continuous improvement.
- Architect a real-time messaging system: Develop a system with message brokers, real-time data synchronization, and user presence management; prioritize low-latency communication, encryption, and scalability through techniques like sharding and replication.
- Design a social media news feed system: Create a system with content aggregation, ranking algorithms, and real-time updates; ensure scalability through caching mechanisms, optimized database queries, and personalization features.
- Create a load balancer that distributes incoming traffic: Design a load balancer with algorithms, health checks, and traffic distribution mechanisms; focus on scalability through dynamic server addition/removal and fault tolerance with automatic traffic rerouting.
- Design a database schema for a multi-tenant SaaS application: Develop a schema with data isolation, tenant identification, and resource sharing; implement security measures, flexible structures, and scalability techniques like sharding.
- Architect a high-throughput, low-latency system for processing streaming data: Design a system with stream processing engines, event-driven architectures, and optimized data storage; prioritize low-latency responses and real-time reactions to streaming events.
- Design an elevator control system for a skyscraper: Develop a system with efficient elevator scheduling algorithms, real-time monitoring, and fault tolerance; consider factors like traffic patterns, energy efficiency, and emergency protocols for safe and reliable operation.
- Create a content delivery network (CDN) for efficiently serving static assets globally: Design a distributed network with edge servers, efficient caching, and global load balancing; prioritize low-latency content delivery, scalability, and secure data transfer.
- Design a system for handling user authentication and authorization: Develop a system with secure authentication protocols, access controls, and token-based authorization; implement features like multi-factor authentication, password hashing, and session management for user security.
- Architect a distributed task scheduling system: Design a system with task allocation algorithms, fault tolerance, and load balancing; consider distributed storage for task information, real-time monitoring, and efficient resource utilization across multiple nodes.
- Design a logging and monitoring system for a large-scale application: Develop a system with centralized logging, real-time monitoring dashboards, and alerting mechanisms; implement features like log aggregation, anomaly detection, and scalability for effective application oversight.
- Create a scalable and fault-tolerant payment processing system: Design a system with secure transaction processing, redundancy, and error recovery mechanisms; prioritize scalability, data integrity, and compliance with payment industry standards.
- Design a distributed database with ACID properties: Develop a distributed database with transaction consistency, atomicity, isolation, and durability; consider partitioning, replication, and distributed consensus algorithms for fault tolerance and scalability.
- Architect a system for handling concurrent requests in a web server: Design a system with efficient concurrency control, thread pooling, and request queuing; implement features like connection pooling, load balancing, and optimization for high throughput and low latency.
- Design a system for version control, similar to Git: Develop a version control system with efficient branching, merging, and distributed repositories; implement features like commit tracking, conflict resolution, and user authentication for collaborative software development.
- Create a scalable and fault-tolerant search engine: Design a search engine with distributed indexing, efficient querying, and fault-tolerant architecture; implement features like sharding, replication, and relevance ranking for optimal search performance.
- Design an in-memory key-value store: Develop a key-value store with efficient in-memory data storage, caching, and retrieval mechanisms; implement features like data partitioning, replication, and consistency for high-speed access.
- Architect a content management system (CMS) for a blogging platform: Design a CMS with user-friendly content creation, versioning, and publication workflows; implement features like role-based access control, content categorization, and search functionality for an effective blogging experience.
- Design a system for online multiplayer gaming: Develop a system with real-time game synchronization, low-latency communication, and fair matchmaking algorithms; implement features like game state replication, cheat detection, and scalability for a seamless multiplayer gaming experience.
- Create a job scheduling system for a cluster of servers: Design a system with efficient job scheduling algorithms, resource allocation, and fault tolerance; implement features like priority queues, load balancing, and distributed task execution for optimal cluster utilization.
- Design an event-driven microservices architecture: Develop a microservices architecture with event-driven communication, scalable components, and fault isolation; implement features like event sourcing, message brokers, and service orchestration for flexibility and responsiveness.
- Architect a secure and scalable user authentication system: Design a system with secure authentication protocols, identity verification, and access controls; implement features like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and secure token exchange for user data protection.
- Design a recommendation system for an e-commerce platform: Architect a system with user profiling, collaborative filtering, and personalized recommendation algorithms; implement features like product catalog integration, feedback loops, and A/B testing for effective product recommendations.
- Create a system for handling and processing large-scale analytics data: Design a system with distributed data processing, efficient querying, and analytics tool integration; implement features like data partitioning, real-time data ingestion, and scalable storage for handling large volumes of analytics data.
- Design a file synchronization system for distributed teams: Develop a system with efficient file versioning, synchronization, and conflict resolution; implement features like distributed storage, access controls, and real-time updates for seamless collaboration among distributed teams.
- Architect a system for real-time analytics on a social media platform: Design a system with real-time data processing, analytics engines, and visualization tools; implement features like event streaming, data aggregation, and scalable storage for timely insights on social media activities.
- Design a scalable and fault-tolerant chat application: Develop a chat application with real-time messaging, user presence management, and secure communication protocols; implement features like message persistence, encryption, and load balancing for scalability and fault tolerance.
When preparing for system design interviews, focus on scalability, reliability, performance, and trade-offs in your solutions. It is essential to discuss various aspects of your design, such as data storage, communication protocols, algorithms, and potential challenges. Practice designing systems on a whiteboard or using online collaborative tools, and be ready to explain and defend your design choices. Good luck!