🔤 M - Middleware 🔄

Middleware is a function that runs between a request and a response 🧠

In simple words 
Middleware acts like a checkpoint 
That processes requests before they reach the main logic 🚦

Without middleware ❌ 
• No authentication checks 
• No request validation 
• No centralized logic 

🧠 What Middleware Is Used For
• Authentication and authorization 🔐 
• Logging requests 📄 
• Validating data ✅ 
• Handling errors ⚠️ 
• Parsing request body 📦 

🌍 Real World Examples
• Checking if user is logged in 
• Verifying JWT tokens 
• Logging API requests 
• Blocking unauthorized access 

🔄 How Middleware Works
Client sends request 📤 
Middleware processes request 🔄 
Request reaches route handler 🛣️ 
Response goes back to client 📩 

💻 Example: Middleware in Express

function authMiddleware(req, res, next) {
  if (!req.headers.authorization) {
    return res.status(401).send("Unauthorized");
  }
  next();
}

app.use(authMiddleware);

app.get("/dashboard", (req, res) => {
  res.send("Welcome to dashboard");
});