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System Design Interview Questions
Software Engineer • 2 Questions
Detailed system design interview questions and answers for software engineer positions.
Q
How would you design a URL shortener like bit.ly?
A
Key components include: 1) Database to store URL mappings 2) Base62 encoding for short URLs 3) Load balancer for high availability 4) Caching layer (Redis) for frequent URLs 5) Analytics service for click tracking 6) Rate limiting to prevent abuse. Consider scalability, availability, and consistency requirements.
Q
Explain the CAP theorem.
A
CAP theorem states that distributed systems can only guarantee two of three properties: Consistency (all nodes see the same data), Availability (system remains operational), and Partition tolerance (system continues despite network failures). Examples: CP systems (traditional databases), AP systems (DNS, web caching).
Mastering System Design for Software Engineer Interviews
System Design questions are fundamental to software engineer interviews. These questions test your understanding of core concepts and your ability to apply them in real-world scenarios.
How to Prepare
- Understand the fundamentals: Make sure you have a solid grasp of basic concepts
- Practice explaining: Be able to explain complex topics in simple terms
- Use examples: Support your answers with concrete examples from your experience
- Stay current: Keep up with industry trends and best practices
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Giving overly technical answers without context
- Not providing specific examples or use cases
- Focusing only on theory without practical application
- Not asking clarifying questions when needed