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The essential guide to API Design & Product Design Interviews – developed by FAANG engineers. Master product design fundamentals & get hands-on with real-world APIs.

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Designing a modern system involves navigating complex requirements to create cohesive and functional designs. As a designer, you'll need to understand these requirements and guide the design process effectively, addressing both broad and specific topics in product design. In this course, you will design APIs for well-known systems such as YouTube, Stripe, and Zoom, understanding how these APIs integrate into the larger product ecosystem. You'll begin by discussing recurring concepts, using them as foundati...Show More

Designing a modern system involves navigating complex requirements to create cohesive and functional designs. As a designer, you...Show More

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

An understanding of the foundational knowledge of API design

Familiarity with the principles of advanced-level API designing

An understanding of the importance of good APIs

An understanding of what makes a good API design

Ability to tackle any new API design endeavor

An understanding of the foundational knowledge of API design

TAKEAWAY SKILLS

System Design

Prepare for Interview

API

API Design

Content

133 Lessons161 Quizzes

Introduction to the Course

4 Lessons

Get familiar with API roles, design principles, course details, and business considerations.

Introduction to APIs

Unpacking API Design

About the Product Architecture Design Course

Business Considerations with APIs

Network Intricacies

3 Lessons

Unpack the core of network protocol roles, latency impacts, and socket communication essentials.

The Narrow Waist of the Internet

Latency and Throughput

Network Sockets as a Foundation for Communication

Different Ways of Client-Server Communication

5 Lessons

Break apart client-server communication, World Wide Web, HTTP, RPCs, and WebSockets adaptations.

World Wide Web

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

Evolution of HTTP

Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs)

WebSockets

Common Data Formats for Web APIs

4 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of choosing appropriate data formats for efficient and secure API communication.

Data Representation and Efficient Communication in APIs

Textual Data Formats

Binary Data Formats

Let AI evaluate Your Understanding of Data Formats

Comparison of API Architectural Styles

7 Lessons

Dig deeper into API architectural styles like REST, GraphQL, and gRPC for optimal use.

Introduction to Web API Architectural Styles

Representational State Transfer (REST): Web Architecture Style

RESTful API

GraphQL: A Query Language for APIs

The gRPC Framework

Comparisons of Different API Architecture Styles

Let AI Evaluate Your Understanding of Architectural Styles

API Design Security

9 Lessons

Focus on robust strategies for securing APIs, including TLS, input validation, authentication, and authorization frameworks.

Introduction to API Security

Transport Layer Security (TLS)

Securing APIs Using Input Validation

Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) in APIs

Authentication and Authorization

OAuth: The Authorization Framework

Authentication and Authorization Frameworks: OpenID and SAML

High-Level View of Security in APIs

Quiz on API Security

Important Concepts in API Design

18 Lessons

Build on essential API concepts, including versioning, rate limiting, evolution, and caching techniques.

API Versioning

Evolving an API Design

Rate Limiting

Client-Adapting APIs

Data Fetching Patterns

Event-Driven Architecture Protocols

Cookies and Sessions

The Role of Idempotency in API Design

Server-Side Rendering vs. Client-Side Rendering

Quiz on Important API Concepts - I

Speeding up Web Page Loading

Resource Hints and Debouncing

Circuit Breaker Pattern

Managing Retries

Caching at Different Layers

API Monitoring

Quiz on Important API Concepts - II

Let AI Evaluate your Concepts of the API Design

Back-of-the-Envelope Calculations for Latency

5 Lessons

Sharpen your skills in estimating and optimizing API response times to enhance user experience.

Introduction to Response Time in APIs

Estimation of Processing Time of an API

Estimation of Latency of an API

The Estimation of Response Time of an API

Discussion on Response Time

What Are the Foundational API Designs?

3 Lessons

Unpack the core of API design frameworks, conventions, and foundational architecture components.

The REDCAMEL Approach for Designing APIs

Conventions for the Design Chapters of the Course

Foundational API Designs

10.

Design a Search Service

6 Lessons

Examine efficient search API design, emphasizing functionality, scalability, security, and low latency.

Requirements of the Search API

Introduction to the Search Service

Search API Design Decisions

API Model for Search Service

Refinements in the Search API

Search API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

11.

Design a File Service

4 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of designing a reliable, secure, and scalable file service API.

Requirements of the File API

File API Design Decisions

API Model for File Service

File API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

12.

Design a Comment Service

5 Lessons

Take a closer look at designing a scalable, secure, and efficient comment service API.

Requirements of the Comment API

Comment API Design Decisions

API Model for Comment Service

Comment API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

Quiz on Rating API

13.

Design a Pub-Sub Service

5 Lessons

Implement a scalable, efficient pub-sub service using asynchronous communication among microservices.

Introduction to the Pub-Sub Service

Requirements of the Pub-Sub API

Pub-Sub API Design Decisions

API Model for Pub-Sub Service

Pub-Sub API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

14.

Concluding Foundational Design Problems

1 Lessons

Build on advanced API design for various applications with unique functionalities and requirements.

Advanced API Design Problems

15.

YouTube Streaming API Design

6 Lessons

Learn how to use YouTube API design to ensure efficient, secure, and scalable video streaming.

Requirements of the YouTube API

Introduction to Video Streaming

YouTube API Design Decisions

API Model for YouTube Service

YouTube API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

Quiz on TikTok API Design

16.

Facebook Messenger API Design

4 Lessons

Unpack the core of Facebook Messenger's API design, focusing on functional and non-functional requirements, design choices, and performance evaluation.

Requirements of the Messenger API

Messenger API Design Decisions

API Model for Messenger Service

Messenger API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

17.

Google Maps API Design

4 Lessons

Examine Google Maps API requirements, design decisions, endpoint models, and performance evaluation.

Requirements of the Google Maps API

Google Maps API Design Decisions

API Model for Google Maps Service

Google Maps API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

18.

Learn to Design a Chess API with AI Mentor

1 Lessons

Build a foundation in designing a Chess API with user authentication and AI mentor.

Chess API Design AI Mentor (Beta)

19.

Zoom API Design

5 Lessons

Solve problems in building and optimizing efficient, scalable, real-time video conferencing APIs.

Requirements of the Zoom API

Introduction to Video Conferencing

Zoom API Design Decisions

API Model for Zoom Service

Zoom API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

20.

Leetcode API Design

4 Lessons

Investigate LeetCode API's functionality, design decisions, endpoints, and performance evaluation.

Requirements of the LeetCode API

LeetCode API Design Decisions

API Model for LeetCode Service

LeetCode API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

21.

Payment Gateway API Design—Stripe

6 Lessons

Practice using Stripe API for secure, efficient payment processing and data management.

Requirements of the Stripe API

Working of a Payment System

Stripe API Design Decisions

API Model for Stripe Service

Stripe Interaction with Cards Network

Stripe API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

22.

Twitter API Design

4 Lessons

Learn how to use essential design considerations for building a robust Twitter API.

Requirements of the Twitter API

Twitter API Design Decisions

API Model for Twitter Service

Twitter API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

23.

Uber API Design

4 Lessons

Unpack the core of Uber's API design, including requirements, design decisions, model, and evaluation.

Requirements of the Uber API

Uber API Design Decisions

API Model for Uber Service

Uber API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

24.

CamelCamelCamel API Design

5 Lessons

Examine opportunities and strategies to design a scalable, reliable, and responsive CamelCamelCamel API.

Requirements of the CamelCamelCamel API

CamelCamelCamel API Design Decisions

API Model for CamelCamelCamel Service

CamelCamelCamel's Communication with the Amazon Service

CamelCamelCamel API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

25.

Gaming API Design

5 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of designing a scalable, low-latency, and secure gaming API architecture.

Requirements of the Gaming API

Introduction to the Gaming Ecosystem

Gaming API Design Decisions

API Model for Gaming Service

Gaming API Design Evaluation and Latency Budget

26.

API Failures and Mitigations

4 Lessons

Take a closer look at causes of API failures and strategies for effective mitigations.

What Causes API Failures

Knight Capital Failure Due to Development Bug

Amazon S3 Service Disruption

Facebook and Uber APIs Failure

27.

Conclusion

2 Lessons

Implement API design principles, practice, and explore further resources for continued development.

What’s Next?

Conclusion

Certificate of Completion

Showcase your accomplishment by sharing your certificate of completion.

Developed by MAANG Engineers

Every Educative resource is designed by our in-house team of ex-MAANG software engineers and PhD computer science educators — subject matter experts who’ve shipped production code at scale and taught the theory behind it. The goal is to get you hands-on with the skills you need to stay ahead in today's constantly evolving tech landscape. No videos, no fluff — just interactive, project-based learning with personalized feedback that adapts to your goals and experience.

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Instant Code Feedback

Evaluate and debug your code with the click of a button. Get real-time feedback on test cases, including time and space complexity of your solutions.

AI-Powered Mock Interviews

Put your skills to the test in a simulated interview setting. Receive personalized feedback based on your performance. Available in Premium & Premium Plus plans.

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Explain with AI

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AI Code Mentor

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Free Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is product architecture design?

Product architecture design refers to the structural framework that defines how various components of a product interact and work together to deliver its intended functionality. It helps designers and engineers visualize the relationships between different modules, subsystems, and features that form a cohesive product.

What is a product architecture interview?

A product architecture interview evaluates candidates’ ability to design and architect products, APIs, or systems that meet specific requirements and constraints. It typically lasts 45 minutes, and understanding the System Design components, trade-offs, and scalability are a few essential factors to focus on. For developers looking to prepare for product architecture interviews, they should take courses in product architecture design.

How do I prepare for a product design interview?

For product design interview preparation, developers should understand the product design process and business strategy. They should practice creating user-centered designs, articulate design trade-offs, and measure success with metrics. Moreover, developers can enhance skills with online courses and mock interviews, while showcasing design process and problem-solving in a solid portfolio.

Grokking the Product Architecture Design Interview Save

Grokking the Product Architecture Design Interview
Save