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What is Middleware in ASP.NET Core?
Middleware in ASP.NET Core refers to software components that are assembled into an
application pipeline to handle requests and responses. Each piece of middleware processes an
HTTP request as it flows through the pipeline and can either:
• Process the request and optionally modify the HTTP response.
• Pass the request to the next piece of middleware in the pipeline.
Middleware is particularly useful for:
• Logging request/response information.
• Authenticating and authorizing users.
• Handling errors and custom error pages.
• Serving static files (like JavaScript, CSS, or images).
• Routing requests to the correct endpoints.
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Middleware Execution Order
Middleware executes in the order they are registered. The request flows down the pipeline, and the
response flows back up.
Key Concepts:
1. RequestDelegate
Middleware is a delegate that takes an HttpContext object and returns a Task.
The RequestDelegate represents the next middleware in the pipeline, allowing each
component to either handle the request or pass it along.
2. HttpContext
The HttpContext object contains information about the current HTTP request and response,
including headers, body, query parameters, user information, etc. Middleware components
interact with this context to manipulate the flow.
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Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Custom Middleware:
1. Create Middleware Class
First, you need to create a middleware class that will contain your custom logic. This class
should have an Invoke or InvokeAsync method.
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2. Register Middleware in Program.cs
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Some Examples/ Scenarios where Middleware can be use:
1. Custom Header Middleware
2. Exception Handling Middleware
Catches exceptions and returns a custom error response.
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Conclusion
Middleware is a crucial component of ASP.NET Core .NET 8, allowing you to handle
requests and responses in a flexible and modular way. In this blog, we explored:
1. The concept of middleware and how it fits into the request pipeline.
2. Common built-in middleware components like routing, static files, and authentication.
3. How to create custom middleware to handle specific tasks.
4. Middleware execution order
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