AI-powered learning
Save this course
Grokking the Product Architecture Interview
This essential guide to the Product Architecture Interview is developed by FAANG engineers. Master product architecture fundamentals and get hands-on with real-world products.
4.6
133 Lessons
8 Mock Interviews
20h
Updated this week
Join 2.9 million developers at
Join 2.9 million developers at
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Ability to tackle product architecture interviews with a structured approach
- Familiarising with the advanced-level principles of product design
- Understanding the role of well-designed APIs in successful product architectures
- Building a strong foundation in API design as a critical component of product architecture
- Applying advanced principles to architect real-world products
Learning Roadmap
1.
Introduction to the Course
Introduction to the Course
Get familiar with API roles, design principles, course details, and business considerations.
2.
Network Intricacies
Network Intricacies
Unpack the core of network protocol roles, latency impacts, and socket communication essentials.
3.
Different Ways of Client-Server Communication
Different Ways of Client-Server Communication
5 Lessons
5 Lessons
Break apart client-server communication, World Wide Web, HTTP, RPCs, and WebSockets adaptations.
4.
Common Data Formats for Web APIs
Common Data Formats for Web APIs
4 Lessons
4 Lessons
Grasp the fundamentals of choosing appropriate data formats for efficient and secure API communication.
5.
Comparison of API Architectural Styles
Comparison of API Architectural Styles
7 Lessons
7 Lessons
Dig deeper into API architectural styles like REST, GraphQL, and gRPC for optimal use.
6.
API Design Security
API Design Security
9 Lessons
9 Lessons
Focus on robust strategies for securing APIs, including TLS, input validation, authentication, and authorization frameworks.
7.
Important Concepts in Product Architecture
Important Concepts in Product Architecture
18 Lessons
18 Lessons
Build on essential API concepts, including versioning, rate limiting, evolution, and caching techniques.
8.
Back-of-the-Envelope Calculations for Latency
Back-of-the-Envelope Calculations for Latency
5 Lessons
5 Lessons
Sharpen your skills in estimating and optimizing API response times to enhance user experience.
9.
What Are the Foundational API Designs?
What Are the Foundational API Designs?
3 Lessons
3 Lessons
Unpack the core of API design frameworks, conventions, and foundational architecture components.
10.
Design a Search Service
Design a Search Service
6 Lessons
6 Lessons
Examine efficient search API design, emphasizing functionality, scalability, security, and low latency.
11.
Design a File Service
Design a File Service
4 Lessons
4 Lessons
Grasp the fundamentals of designing a reliable, secure, and scalable file service API.
12.
Design a Comment Service
Design a Comment Service
5 Lessons
5 Lessons
Take a closer look at designing a scalable, secure, and efficient comment service API.
13.
Design a Pub-Sub Service
Design a Pub-Sub Service
5 Lessons
5 Lessons
Implement a scalable, efficient pub-sub service using asynchronous communication among microservices.
15.
YouTube Streaming API Design
YouTube Streaming API Design
6 Lessons
6 Lessons
Learn how to use YouTube API design to ensure efficient, secure, and scalable video streaming.
16.
Facebook Messenger API Design
Facebook Messenger API Design
4 Lessons
4 Lessons
Unpack the core of Facebook Messenger's API design, focusing on functional and non-functional requirements, design choices, and performance evaluation.
17.
Google Maps API Design
Google Maps API Design
4 Lessons
4 Lessons
Examine Google Maps API requirements, design decisions, endpoint models, and performance evaluation.
19.
Zoom API Design
Zoom API Design
5 Lessons
5 Lessons
Solve problems in building and optimizing efficient, scalable, real-time video conferencing APIs.
20.
Leetcode API Design
Leetcode API Design
4 Lessons
4 Lessons
Investigate LeetCode API's functionality, design decisions, endpoints, and performance evaluation.
21.
Payment Gateway API Design—Stripe
Payment Gateway API Design—Stripe
6 Lessons
6 Lessons
Practice using Stripe API for secure, efficient payment processing and data management.
22.
Twitter API Design
Twitter API Design
4 Lessons
4 Lessons
Learn how to use essential design considerations for building a robust Twitter API.
23.
Uber API Design
Uber API Design
4 Lessons
4 Lessons
Unpack the core of Uber's API design, including requirements, design decisions, model, and evaluation.
24.
CamelCamelCamel API Design
CamelCamelCamel API Design
5 Lessons
5 Lessons
Examine opportunities and strategies to design a scalable, reliable, and responsive CamelCamelCamel API.
25.
Gaming API Design
Gaming API Design
5 Lessons
5 Lessons
Grasp the fundamentals of designing a scalable, low-latency, and secure gaming API architecture.
26.
API Failures and Mitigations
API Failures and Mitigations
4 Lessons
4 Lessons
Take a closer look at causes of API failures and strategies for effective mitigations.
27.
Conclusion
Conclusion
2 Lessons
2 Lessons
Implement API design principles, practice, and explore further resources for continued development.
Certificate of Completion
Showcase your accomplishment by sharing your certificate of completion.
Complete more lessons to unlock your certificate
Developed by MAANG Engineers
ABOUT THIS COURSE
This course prepares you for product architecture interviews by exploring systems from a client’s perspective and showing how client calls interact with the back end. API and product architecture design has become a full interview round of its own, separate from traditional System Design.
Architecting a product 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 all essential topics in product design.
In this course, you'll design well-known products like YouTube, Stripe, and Zoom. You'll begin by discussing recurring concepts, using them as foundational building blocks. You’ll trace the lifecycle of an API call from the client to the service to meet functional requirements. Additionally, you’ll use a reference back-end implementation to demonstrate how an API call operates, with a focus on minimizing client-visible latency to create competitive APIs and products.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fahim ul Haq
Software Engineer, Distributed Storage at Meta and Microsoft, Educative (Co-founder & CEO)
Trusted by 2.9 million developers working at companies
A
Anthony Walker
@_webarchitect_
E
Evan Dunbar
ML Engineer
S
Software Developer
Carlos Matias La Borde
S
Souvik Kundu
Front-end Developer
V
Vinay Krishnaiah
Software Developer
Built for 10x Developers
No Passive Learning
Learn by building with project-based lessons and in-browser code editor
Personalized Roadmaps
The platform adapts to your strengths & skills gaps as you go
Future-proof Your Career
Get hands-on with in-demand skills
AI Code Mentor
Write better code with AI feedback, smart debugging, and "Ask AI"
MAANG+ Interview Prep
AI Mock Interviews simulate every technical loop at top companies
Free Resources
