Creating and Using Middleware
Middleware provides a way to filter and inspect HTTP requests before they reach the rest of an application. It sits between the incoming request and the route's logic, making it the natural place for cross-cutting concerns like authentication checks or logging.
What Middleware Actually Does
Each piece of middleware can inspect a request, modify it, reject it outright, or simply pass it along to the next step in the pipeline. Laravel already ships with several built-in middleware classes, and custom ones can be added just as easily for application-specific needs.
Creating a Middleware Class
New middleware is typically generated through Artisan, producing a class with a single handle() method. That method receives the incoming request and a $next closure representing the rest of the pipeline.
| Concept | Purpose |
|---|---|
handle($request, Closure $next) | The core method every middleware class implements |
return $next($request) | Passes the request forward to the next step |
abort() / redirect | Stops the request from proceeding further |
Common Uses for Middleware
- Verifying a user is authenticated before allowing access
- Logging details about incoming requests
- Checking maintenance mode before processing a request
- Enforcing rate limits on sensitive endpoints
Writing a middleware class is only half the job — it still needs to be connected to the routes it should actually protect, which is exactly what we look at next.
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