Discover the broad and rich set of technologies and processes that they could be referring to.
Middleware Means Many Things
Middleware is a flexible term that people use to mean different things.
In other words, any software that depends on separate code to provide its input and process its output.
How Does Middleware Work?
Middleware is typically as strong as its protocols and publicly-defined behavior.
Strict protocols for communication allow programmers to write software that abides by standards to function correctly.
Middleware components often use technologies like JSON, REST, XML, and SOAP.
Their text-based format and wide range of toolsets also enable easier and more reliable debugging.
Most frameworks provide a core environment that you’re able to customize and extend to your own requirements.
The Express.js framework uses this model to support customization.
The PHP framework, Laravel, has an almost identical middleware setup.
Notice how the namespace explicitly defines this class as “Middleware”.
Theredirectfunction will return an appropriateResponseobject, which the middleware function should return as part of its signature contract.
This final example shows howDjango, a Python-based web framework, handles middleware.
In essence, its simply another case of a middleware setup providing flexibility throughout a structured process.
Why Is Middleware Useful?
Middleware makes it easier to connect applications that weren’t designed to be connected.
It provides functionality to integrate them, along with robust, structured protocols by which they can communicate.
