Frontend System Design
RADIO Pattern (Autocomplete)
1. Requirements Exploration
Clarify the Problem Scope:
- Primary Goal: To provide real-time, relevant suggestions as the user types in the input field.
- Data Source: Will suggestions be sourced from a local database, external API, or both?
- Pagination Strategy: Determine if results should be paginated or if infinite scrolling is required.
- Display Requirements: Define what should be shown in the suggestions (text, images, icons).
- Error Handling: How should errors be managed (e.g., API failures)?
- Performance Needs: Focus on optimizing the speed and efficiency of fetching suggestions.
- Security: Address any data privacy concerns related to the suggestions.
- Functional Requirements:
- Real-Time Suggestions: Provide suggestions in real-time as the user types.
- Search Functionality: Fetch and display suggestions based on user input.
- Pagination/Scrolling: Support paginated results or infinite scrolling based on user interaction.
- Error Handling: Display appropriate error messages if the API request fails or returns no results.
- Selection Handling: Allow users to select a suggestion from the list and handle the selection event.
- Non-Functional Requirements:
- Performance: Ensure the autocomplete feature is responsive and does not degrade the performance of the application.
- Scalability: Design the system to handle a large number of suggestions and concurrent users efficiently.
- Usability: Ensure the autocomplete component is user-friendly and provides a smooth experience.
- Accessibility: Make sure the component is accessible to users with disabilities, including compatibility with screen readers and keyboard navigation.
- Reliability: Ensure the system handles errors gracefully and remains operational under varying conditions.
- Security: Protect user data and interactions, especially if dealing with sensitive or personal information.
2. Architecture/High-Level Design
Key Components and Their Relationships:
-
UI Component (Autocomplete Box):
- Contains the input field and suggestion list.
- Manages user interactions, including showing suggestions and handling errors.
-
Search Service:
- Handles communication with the backend to fetch suggestions.
- Manages pagination and updates the suggestion list.
-
Cache:
- Stores results for previously fetched queries and offsets.
- Reduces redundant API calls and speeds up response times.
-
State Management:
- Manages the state of user input, suggestions, errors, and loading indicators.
- Connects the UI with the data fetched from the backend.
-
API Layer:
- Defines how the frontend communicates with the backend.
- Handles API requests, including pagination, and manages error responses.
3. Data Model
+-------------------+
| Query Object |
+-------------------+
| - query: string |
| - offset: number |
| - limit: number |
+-------------------+
| + SearchService |
| + APILayer |
+-------------------+
^
|
|
+-----------------------+
| Suggestion Object |
+-----------------------+
| - id: string |
| - label: string |
| - description: string |
| - icon: string |
+-----------------------+
| + UIComponent |
| + Cache |
+-----------------------+
^
|
|
+------------------------+
| Error Object |
+------------------------+
| - errorCode: string |
| - errorMessage: string |
+------------------------+
| + UIComponent |
| + APILayer |
+------------------------+
Data Entities and Their Components:
// Query Object Interface
interface Query {
query: string; // The search term entered by the user
offset: number; // Pagination offset for fetching results
limit: number; // Number of results to return per request
}
// Suggestion Object Interface
interface Suggestion {
id: string; // Unique identifier for the suggestion
label: string; // The main text of the suggestion
description?: string; // Optional additional information
icon?: string; // Optional image or icon URL
}
// Error Object Interface
interface Error {
errorCode: string; // Code representing the type of error
errorMessage: string; // Description of the error
}
-
Query Object:
- Fields:
query: The search term entered by the user.offset: Pagination offset for fetching results.limit: Number of results to return per request.
- Component: Search Service, API Layer.
- Fields:
-
Suggestion Object:
- Fields:
id: Unique identifier for the suggestion.label: The main text of the suggestion.description: Optional additional information.icon: Optional image or icon URL.
- Component: UI Component, Cache.
- Fields:
-
Error Object:
- Fields:
errorCode: Code representing the type of error.errorMessage: Description of the error.
- Component: UI Component, API Layer.
- Fields:
4. Interface Definition (API)
Define Component Interfaces:
- Fetch Suggestions API:
- Endpoint:
GET /api/suggestions - Functionality: Retrieves suggestions based on the search query.
- Parameters:
query: The search term.offset: Pagination offset (to support infinite scrolling).limit: Number of results to fetch.
- Example Request:
GET /api/suggestions?query=apple&offset=0&limit=10 - Response:
- Endpoint:
{
"pagination": {
"size": 10, // Number of results per page
"total": 50, // Total number of results available
"count": 10, // Number of results returned in this response
"per_page": 10, // Number of results per page
"next_page_url": "/api/suggestions?query=apple&offset=10&limit=10", // URL for the next page
"prev_page_url": null, // URL for the previous page (null if on the first page)
"next_cursor": "next_cursor_value", // Cursor for the next set of results
"prev_cursor": null // Cursor for the previous set of results (null if on the first page)
},
"results": [
{
"id": "1",
"label": "Apple"
},
{
"id": "2",
"label": "Apple Pie"
}
// ... More results
]
}
- Errors:
- 404: No suggestions found.
- 500: Internal server error.
- Load More API:
- Endpoint:
GET /api/suggestions - Functionality: Fetches additional suggestions for the next page.
- Parameters:
query: The search term.offset: Updated pagination offset.limit: Number of results to fetch.
- Example Request:
GET /api/suggestions?query=apple&offset=10&limit=10 - Response: Same format as Fetch Suggestions API.
- Endpoint:
5. Optimizations and Deep Dive
Explore Optimization Opportunities:
-
Caching:
- Cache previous results to minimize redundant API requests and improve performance.
- Use an in-memory cache with query and offset as keys.
-
Debouncing:
- Implement debouncing to reduce the number of API calls during user input.
- Example: Delay API requests by 300ms after the user stops typing.
-
Pagination:
- Implement pagination to fetch results in chunks rather than all at once.
- Example: Load 10 results at a time with a “Load More” button.
-
Lazy Loading:
- Use lazy loading to display results only when needed (e.g., as the user scrolls down).
-
Prefetching:
- Prefetch the next set of results when the user is close to reaching the end of the current list.
-
Error Handling:
- Implement retry logic for failed requests and display user-friendly error messages.
-
Accessibility:
- Ensure that the autocomplete component is accessible to screen readers and other assistive technologies.
- Use ARIA roles and properties to enhance accessibility.
-
Performance:
- Optimize rendering by updating only the parts of the UI that change.
- Consider using virtual scrolling for large datasets to enhance performance.
+---------------------+
| UI Component |
| (Autocomplete Box) |
+----------+----------+
|
v
+----------+----------+
| Search Service |
+----------+----------+
|
v
+----------+----------+
| Cache |
+----------+----------+
|
v
+----------+----------+
| API Layer |
+----------+----------+
|
v
+----------+----------+
| State Management |
+----------+----------+
|
v
+----------+----------+
| UI Component |
| (Autocomplete Box) |
+---------------------+