What are the three components of system design?

The three primary components of system design are:

1. Frontend (Client-Side)

The frontend is the part of the system that users interact with directly, usually through web or mobile interfaces. It involves:

• User interface (UI) design
• User experience (UX) optimization
• Handling user input and interacting with the backend via APIs

2. Backend (Server-Side)

The backend consists of the server-side components that process requests, handle business logic, and interact with the database. Key elements include:

• Application servers: Execute the core business logic.
• APIs: Facilitate communication between the frontend and backend.
• Databases: Store and retrieve data efficiently.

3. Data Storage

Data storage encompasses the databases and file storage systems that store the application's data. This includes:

• Relational Databases (SQL): For structured data.
• NoSQL Databases: For unstructured or flexible data types.
• Caching systems: Tools like Redis or Memcached for improving data retrieval speed.

These three components work together to deliver a complete system that handles both user interactions and data processing.

For more comprehensive learning, explore resources like:

• Grokking System Design Fundamentals
• Grokking the System Design Interview for practical examples