How does URL shortening for TinyUrl, Bit.ly work?

Complete System design guide with handwritten math calculations

Not a Medium member? Read here.

We are constantly sharing information online. Whether it’s articles, videos, or products, web addresses (URLs) are the gateway to accessing this content. However, long URLs can be cumbersome to share, especially on platforms like social media or messaging apps where character limits apply. This is where websites like bit.ly and TinyURL come into play.

They help with making long links shorter and more readable. These shortened links not only look cleaner but also make sharing content across various platforms a breeze.

Now that you know the secret, imagine millions of users around the world shortening URLs every day. This puts a significant strain on the underlying infrastructure. And that is where high-level system design comes into the picture.

Starting with this series on system design, our aim is to break down the functionality, architecture, challenges, scalability, system APIs, performance, and resource estimation associated with each system. We will provide the essential insights required to tackle similar projects in real-world scenarios. Just as coding involves more than just writing lines of…