noun

middleware

MID-uhl-wair

Middleware (noun) means Code that sits between a request arriving and the part of the application that finally answers it, doing shared jobs on the way through such as checking that the user is logged in, recording the request or rejecting bad input. Example: “Authentication is handled by middleware, so no individual page has to check it.”

noun

technical Code that sits between a request arriving and the part of the application that finally answers it, doing shared jobs on the way through such as checking that the user is logged in, recording the request or rejecting bad input.

"Authentication is handled by middleware, so no individual page has to check it."

"We added a middleware that logs how long every request takes."

technical More broadly, software that sits between two other systems and lets them work together, such as a layer connecting an application to a database or to another company's systems.

"The hospital uses middleware to move records between the booking system and the lab."

How to Use Middleware

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCode that sits in the middle and handles jobs shared by everything passing through.

When to use it

Technical; a mass noun in the broad sense (some middleware) but countable in web frameworks (a middleware, several middlewares).

Memory tip

In web frameworks, middleware runs in order, one after another, and any one of them can stop the request before it reaches the page.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

plugin → API → proxy →

Common pairings

authentication middleware middleware stack register a middleware middleware layer

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Test yourself on “middleware” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Authentication is handled by _____, so no individual page has to check it.

Etymology

A compound of middle and the -ware of software.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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filter interceptor request handler pipeline component integration layer connector message broker glue software

Related Words

ideal filter interface fitting connector trickle interceptor dribble

Rhymes for middleware

are dare care hare mare fare bare rare ware gare share snare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between middleware and a plugin?

Middleware is positioned in the path a request travels along and acts on every request that passes through it. A plugin adds a feature to a piece of software, and may or may not touch requests at all. Some plugins work by installing middleware.

Does middleware only exist in web applications?

No. The word was used for integration software connecting business systems long before web frameworks adopted it, and both senses are still current.

Can middleware stop a request?

Yes. That is one of its main uses — middleware that checks permissions can refuse a request and return an error rather than letting it reach the rest of the application.

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