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Shorten URL: Users can submit long URLs, and the system should generate a shorter alias (e.g., abc123) that redirects to the original URL.
Redirection: When someone visits the shortened URL, they are redirected to the original URL.
Analytics (Optional): Track how many times a URL has been visited.
Custom Aliases (Optional): Users can specify their custom alias instead of the system-generated one.
Expiration (Optional): URLs can expire after a certain time or number of uses.
High Availability: The service should be available 24/7.
Low Latency: Redirection should be quick (minimal delay).
Scalability: The service should handle millions of URL redirects per day.
Reliability: Shortened URLs must reliably redirect to the correct destination.
Security: Prevent malicious users from creating harmful shortened links (phishing, etc.).
Data Storage Efficiency: URLs should be stored efficiently, as millions or billions of shortened URLs might exist.
Estimate the scale of the system you are going to design...
URL Shortening API: Accepts a long URL and returns a shortened URL. This can be an HTTP POST request.
Redirection API: When the shortened URL is accessed, it performs a lookup and redirects to the long URL.
Defining the system data model early on will clarify how data will flow among different components of the system. Also you could draw an ER diagram using the diagramming tool to enhance your design...
You should identify enough components that are needed to solve the actual problem from end to end. Also remember to draw a block diagram using the diagramming tool to augment your design. If you are unfamiliar with the tool, you can simply describe your design to the chat bot and ask it to generate a starter diagram for you to modify...
Explain how the request flows from end to end in your high level design. Also you could draw a sequence diagram using the diagramming tool to enhance your explanation...
Dig deeper into 2-3 components and explain in detail how they work. For example, how well does each component scale? Any relevant algorithm or data structure you like to use for a component? Also you could draw a diagram using the diagramming tool to enhance your design...
Explain any trade offs you have made and why you made certain tech choices...
Try to discuss as many failure scenarios/bottlenecks as possible.
What are some future improvements you would make? How would you mitigate the failure scenario(s) you described above?