System design interview questions

System design interview questions ask you to design a real software system, such as a rate limiter or a chat app, and explain your choices: requirements, scale, APIs, data and trade-offs. This list covers backend, low-level, database, API, frontend, real-time, data pipeline and ML rounds. Read any question free.

450 interview questions12 free438 premium

Updated 2 Oct 2026 · Written by the SevyDevy team

All system design interview questions

Design a URL shortenerBackend systemAsked at Salesforce, Oracle, AdobeMediumFree Design a URL shortenerBackend system · MediumFreeAsked at Salesforce, Oracle, Adobe
Design a file upload serviceBackend systemAsked at OracleHardFree Design a file upload serviceBackend system · HardFreeAsked at Oracle
Design a rate limiterBackend systemAsked at Amazon, Apple, Flipkart, Zomato, Uber, Razorpay, Paytm, Salesforce, Atlassian, OracleMediumFree Design a rate limiterBackend system · MediumFreeAsked at Amazon, Apple, Flipkart, Zomato, Uber, Razorpay, Paytm, Salesforce, Atlassian, Oracle
Design a notification systemBackend systemAsked at Google, Microsoft, Meta, Blinkit, Zomato, PhonePe, Salesforce, Goldman SachsHardFree Design a notification systemBackend system · HardFreeAsked at Google, Microsoft, Meta, Blinkit, Zomato, PhonePe, Salesforce, Goldman Sachs
Design a load balancerDistributed infrastructureAsked at OracleMediumFree Design a load balancerDistributed infrastructure · MediumFreeAsked at Oracle
Design a profile picture upload systemBackend systemEasyFree Design a profile picture upload systemBackend system · EasyFree
Design an API rate limiter for multiple usersBackend systemEasyFree Design an API rate limiter for multiple usersBackend system · EasyFree
Design a CAPTCHA verification systemSecurity systemEasyFree Design a CAPTCHA verification systemSecurity system · EasyFree
Design a global timestamp generatorDistributed infrastructureEasyFree Design a global timestamp generatorDistributed infrastructure · EasyFree
Design a simple secure API key management systemSecurity systemEasyFree Design a simple secure API key management systemSecurity system · EasyFree

What do interviewers test in system design?

You agree the scope and the numbers before you design.
A clear path for one request, end to end.
Data stored in a shape that fits how it is read.
Trade-offs named and explained, not hidden.
A plan for growth and for failure.