System Design Series: Taro Playlists [Part 5] - Data Model

[Click here for Part 6, "Overall Approach And Tradeoffs".](https://link.jointaro.com/NpeFRf94MLZGx7q69)

You can [find the full system design doc here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/15WaM8Ojan82g0m2mtz6kC2Hiyj0Q6VbjfqRmVNDI3qw/edit?usp=sharing) - Feel free to use it as a template for when you're designing systems at your job!

The concrete details are covered in the doc linked above, so this summary will focus on the "meta" context behind this part and additional commentary:
- Always define the data model if applicable. It is the "core operating unit" of your system - Everything revolves around it. That's pretty much what CRUD is: You have some data model and the entire ecosystem revolves around manipulating it properly.
- Define the table/collection(s):
  - What is its name?
  - What does it represent? If you can include a visual aide on how it's actually rendered for the user, that makes things a lot clearer.
- Define the fields on your model:
  - What is its name/key?
  - What is its type?
  - Is it required?
  - What does it represent? This should include information on what kind of key it is (e.g. primary key) if applicable.
- Illustrate the model to make it really clear. JSON is really good at doing this as it's very readable. There are many free incredible JSON formatters online (Alex used them all the time to make project specs).

Click here for Part 6, "Overall Approach And Tradeoffs"

Alex worked at PayPal and then as a tech lead across Course Hero, Meta, and Robinhood. He's now building Taro, empowering software engineers to be happier and more effective.

System design is the process of determining the optimal high-level technical approach to a problem. It's a staple in both the interview process and actually doing your job as a software engineer. We have created a video series to act as a system design primer for software engineers.

Taro has a video series which serves as a system design primer for people new to system design

System design is a necessary process at software companies to design architectures that can be compatible with different requirements.