System Design Interview Fundamentals

Describe the typical structure and expectations of a system design interview at top companies

Describe a systematic framework for solving system design problems (requirements, estimation, design, deep dive, trade-offs)

Clarify functional and non-functional requirements by asking effective questions

Perform back-of-the-envelope calculations for storage, bandwidth, and QPS

Create a high-level design diagram including major components and APIs

Identify key areas for deep dive based on the problem and interviewer cues

Articulate trade-offs clearly for key design decisions

Manage time effectively across phases of a 45-minute system design interview