Requirements Gathering for Facebook System Design

Functional Requirements for Facebook System Design

• User Authentication: Implement secure methods for users to log in, such as using OAuth 2.0 or JWT.
• Profile Management: Allow users to personalize their profiles with information like a bio, location, work/education details, and more.
• News Feed: Use algorithms to deliver personalized content to users based on their interests and interactions.
• Posting: Support different types of posts, such as text, photos, videos, events, and polls.
• Social Interactions: Enable features like tagging friends, reacting to posts with emojis, and sharing content to other platforms.
• Notifications: Implement real-time push notifications, so users can receive updates instantly.
• Search: Use indexing and search algorithms to provide fast and accurate search results.
• Privacy Settings: Offer users granular control over their privacy settings, allowing them to choose who can see their posts, friend lists, and profile.

Non-functional Requirements for Facebook System Design

• Security: Ensure that user authentication methods are secure and protect user data from unauthorized access.
• Performance: Ensure that the system can handle a large number of concurrent users and deliver content quickly.
• Scalability: Design the system to easily scale as the user base grows.
• Usability: Ensure that the user interface is intuitive and easy to use, even for users who are not tech-savvy.
• Reliability: Ensure that the system is reliable and available, with minimal downtime or disruptions.
• Real-time: Ensure that notifications are delivered to users in real time without significant delay.
• Accuracy: Ensure that search results are accurate and relevant to the user’s query.
• Customizability: Allow users to customize their experience, such as choosing preferences for their news feed or notifications.

Designing a system as complex and globally impactful as Facebook requires careful consideration of various factors, including scalability, reliability, and performance. This article explores the key components and architectural decisions involved in designing Facebook, focusing on its core functionalities and the challenges of supporting billions of users worldwide.