How to Design a Scalable URL Shortener System Like Bit.ly
A high-level system design for a URL shortener outlines how to convert long URLs into short codes and redirect users back to the originals. The architecture relies on Base62 encoding of unique IDs — generated via auto-increment, UUID, or Snowflake — to produce 7-character codes supporting up to 3.5 trillion unique URLs. The system is built to handle roughly 11,500 reads per second at a 100:1 read-to-write ratio, with Redis caching targeting a 95% cache hit rate to minimize database load. A PostgreSQL database stores URL records and click analytics, with read replicas and automated failover ensuring high availability. Optional features include custom aliases, URL expiration, and analytics tracking clicks, referrers, and geographic data.
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