System Design – URL Shortener
In an era where brevity is valued and attention spans are fleeting, the quest for efficiency in digital communication has never been more crucial. URL shorteners have emerged as a vital tool in this landscape, offering a convenient solution to the age-old problem of unwieldy web addresses. But what goes into designing a URL shortener? Is it merely about creating a shorter link, or does it involve a more intricate interplay of technology, user experience, and ethical considerations?
The design of a URL shortener may seem straightforward at first glance, but beneath its seemingly simple facade lies a lot of complexities waiting to be unraveled. From choosing the right algorithms to ensure link uniqueness and stability, to crafting user interfaces that are intuitive and accessible, designing a URL shortener demands a multifaceted approach.
This chapter aims to delve deep into the intricacies of designing URL shorteners, understanding the functional and non-functional requirements, and exploring the challenges and considerations that developers and designers face in creating these indispensable tools. We’ll examine the technical foundations that underpin URL shorteners, from URL parsing and hashing algorithms to database management and error handling.
We will cover the following topics in this chapter:
- Real-world use cases
- Functional requirements
- Non-functional requirements
- APIs
- Estimates and calculations
- System design
- Requirements verification
Join us as we embark on this journey of designing URL shorteners.
