HomeCoursesGrokking the Frontend System Design Interview

4.7

Intermediate

10h

Updated this week

Grokking the Frontend System Design Interview

Grokking the Frontend System Design Interview course, developed by FAANG engineers, will teach you the essential principles, patterns, and strategies for designing cutting-edge frontend applications.

Overview

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Frontend System Design interviews have become standard for senior frontend and full-stack roles at major tech companies. The expectation is that you can take a broad prompt – "design the frontend for a chat application" or "architect a video streaming interface" – and walk through the full system: component architecture, state management, API design, performance optimization, and tradeoffs. When I was building production systems at Microsoft and Meta, many of the hardest engineering decisions happened at the frontend layer. Questions like: how to manage state across complex UIs, how to keep things responsive under load, how to structure components so a growing team could work on them without stepping on each other. Those are exactly the kinds of decisions this course prepares you to make and articulate. In this course, you’ll start with foundational concepts: browser rendering, CSS positioning, DOM manipulation, state management, and non-functional requirements like performance, accessibility, and localization. From there, the course moves into optimization techniques, API architecture styles, design patterns (component-driven design, micro-frontends), and frontend security. The course's backbone is the REDCAAP framework. This is a structured approach for breaking down any frontend System Design problem into manageable steps. You'll apply it to three real-world systems: a newsfeed, a video streaming platform, and a chat application. Each design walks through requirements, architecture decisions, component structure, and performance considerations- all the same progression you'd follow in an actual interview.

Frontend System Design interviews have become standard for senior frontend and full-stack roles at major tech companies. The exp...Show More

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Design scalable, maintainable frontend architectures: SPA, MPA, monolithic, and micro-frontends

Optimize frontend performance with rendering strategies, caching, lazy loading, and asset optimization

Apply the REDCAAP framework by a step-by-step method for approaching any frontend System Design problem

Design effective APIs and integrate frontend systems with backend services using modern protocols

Build component-based UI systems that are reusable, modular, and efficient at scale

Design three real-world frontend systems: a newsfeed, a video streaming platform, and a chat application

Design scalable, maintainable frontend architectures: SPA, MPA, monolithic, and micro-frontends

TAKEAWAY SKILLS

System Design

Prepare for Interview

Front-end Development

Full Stack Development

Learning Roadmap

45 Lessons56 Quizzes

Introduction to Frontend System Design

Get familiar with frontend System Design for scalable, efficient, and engaging applications.

What Is Frontend System Design?

The Structure of the Frontend System Design Course

The Role of Frontend System Design in Modern Applications

Nonfunctional Requirements

Build frontend systems by prioritizing performance, accessibility, localization, and maintainability.

Performance in Frontend Systems

Accessibility and Compatibility in Frontend Systems

Localization and Internationalization in Frontend

Designing Maintainable Frontend Systems

Fundamentals of Frontend System Design

4 Lessons

Explore browser rendering, CSS positioning, DOM manipulation, and state management for optimized web applications.

Performance and Optimization

9 Lessons

Enhance frontend performance through optimization techniques for speed, rendering, and user experience.

API Architecture Styles, Protocols, and Data Formats

3 Lessons

Expand on client-server communication protocols, API styles, and data formats for effective frontend interactions.

Frontend Design Patterns and Architectures

6 Lessons

Explore architectural patterns and strategies for effective frontend System Design.

Security in Frontend System Design

2 Lessons

Uncover frontend security through authentication, authorization, and secure data practices.

Frontend System Design Framework

Unravel the REDCAAP framework for scalable and efficient frontend System Design.

The REDCAAP Approach for Designing Frontend Systems

Newsfeed Frontend System Design

4 Lessons

Design scalable, responsive newsfeed frontends with real-time updates and personalized content delivery.

10.

Video Streaming Frontend System Design

4 Lessons

Build an efficient video streaming interface that optimizes real-time performance and user experience.

11.

Chat Application Frontend System Design

4 Lessons

Create a high-performing chat frontend optimized for responsiveness, user engagement, and low-latency messaging.

12.

Conclusion

Recap essential strategies for building scalable frontend systems and explore further resources for continued development.

Wrapping Up the Frontend System Design

Certificate of Completion

Showcase your accomplishment by sharing your certificate of completion.

Course Author:

Fahim ul Haq

Developed by MAANG Engineers

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Skip the LeetCode grind with a custom roadmap that adapts to your goals. Hands-on practice for Coding Interviews, System Design, and more.

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Test your skills in a simulated interview setting. Receive personalized feedback based on your performance. Available for Coding Interviews, System Design, and more.

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