middleware

id	SKL-middleware-MIDDLEWARE
name	Middleware
description	Middleware functions are functions that have access to the request object (req), response object (res), and the next middleware function in the application's request-response cycle. Middleware helps m
version	1.0.0
status	active
owner	@cerebra-team
last_updated	2026-02-22
category	Backend
tags	["api","backend","server","database"]
stack	["Python","Node.js","REST API","GraphQL"]
difficulty	Intermediate

Middleware

Skill Profile

(Select at least one profile to enable specific modules)

• DevOps
• Backend
• Frontend
• AI-RAG
• Security Critical

Overview

Middleware functions are functions that have access to the request object (req), response object (res), and the next middleware function in the application's request-response cycle. Middleware helps manage cross-cutting concerns like authentication, logging, error handling, and validation.

Middleware consists of:

• Request Processing: Process incoming requests before route handlers
• Response Processing: Modify responses before sending to clients
• Error Handling: Centralized error handling across all routes
• Cross-Cutting Concerns: Authentication, logging, validation, compression
• Modular Design: Composable middleware chain for flexible configuration

Why This Matters

• Increase Maintainability: Centralized logic reduces code duplication
• Enhance Security: Consistent security policies across all endpoints
• Increase Observability: Centralized logging and monitoring
• Reduce Development Time: Reusable middleware reduces boilerplate
• Improve Consistency: Consistent error handling and validation

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Core Concepts & Rules

1. Core Principles

• Follow established patterns and conventions
• Maintain consistency across codebase
• Document decisions and trade-offs

2. Implementation Guidelines

• Start with the simplest viable solution
• Iterate based on feedback and requirements
• Test thoroughly before deployment

Inputs / Outputs / Contracts

• Inputs:
  • Middleware requirements
  • Authentication requirements
  • Logging requirements
  • Security requirements
• Entry Conditions:
  • Node.js 16+ is available
  • Express.js is installed
  • TypeScript is configured
  • Middleware requirements are defined
• Outputs:
  • Middleware functions
  • Authentication middleware
  • Logging middleware
  • Error handling middleware
• Artifacts Required (Deliverables):
  • Middleware implementations
  • Authentication middleware
  • Logging middleware
  • Error handlers
  • Validation middleware
• Acceptance Evidence:
  • Middleware processes requests correctly
  • Authentication is enforced
  • Logging is comprehensive
  • Error handling is consistent
• Success Criteria:
  • Middleware is modular
  • Authentication is secure
  • Logging is structured
  • Error handling is consistent

Skill Composition

• Depends on: error-handling, validation
• Compatible with: express-rest, nodejs-api
• Conflicts with: None
• Related Skills: api-design, monitoring-observability

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Quick Start / Implementation Example

1. Review requirements and constraints
2. Set up development environment
3. Implement core functionality following patterns
4. Write tests for critical paths
5. Run tests and fix issues
6. Document any deviations or decisions

# Example implementation following best practices
def example_function():
    # Your implementation here
    pass

Assumptions / Constraints / Non-goals

• Assumptions:
  • Development environment is properly configured
  • Required dependencies are available
  • Team has basic understanding of domain
• Constraints:
  • Must follow existing codebase conventions
  • Time and resource limitations
  • Compatibility requirements
• Non-goals:
  • This skill does not cover edge cases outside scope
  • Not a replacement for formal training

Compatibility & Prerequisites

• Supported Versions:
  • Python 3.8+
  • Node.js 16+
  • Modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Required AI Tools:
  • Code editor (VS Code recommended)
  • Testing framework appropriate for language
  • Version control (Git)
• Dependencies:
  • Language-specific package manager
  • Build tools
  • Testing libraries
• Environment Setup:
  • .env.example keys: API_KEY, DATABASE_URL (no values)

Test Scenario Matrix (QA Strategy)

Type	Focus Area	Required Scenarios / Mocks
Unit	Core Logic	Must cover primary logic and at least 3 edge/error cases. Target minimum 80% coverage
Integration	DB / API	All external API calls or database connections must be mocked during unit tests
E2E	User Journey	Critical user flows to test
Performance	Latency / Load	Benchmark requirements
Security	Vuln / Auth	SAST/DAST or dependency audit
Frontend	UX / A11y	Accessibility checklist (WCAG), Performance Budget (Lighthouse score)

Technical Guardrails & Security Threat Model

1. Security & Privacy (Threat Model)

• Top Threats: Injection attacks, authentication bypass, data exposure

• Data Handling: Sanitize all user inputs to prevent Injection attacks. Never log raw PII
• Secrets Management: No hardcoded API keys. Use Env Vars/Secrets Manager
• Authorization: Validate user permissions before state changes

2. Performance & Resources

• Execution Efficiency: Consider time complexity for algorithms
• Memory Management: Use streams/pagination for large data
• Resource Cleanup: Close DB connections/file handlers in finally blocks

3. Architecture & Scalability

• Design Pattern: Follow SOLID principles, use Dependency Injection
• Modularity: Decouple logic from UI/Frameworks

4. Observability & Reliability

• Logging Standards: Structured JSON, include trace IDs request_id
• Metrics: Track error_rate, latency, queue_depth
• Error Handling: Standardized error codes, no bare except
• Observability Artifacts:
  • Log Fields: timestamp, level, message, request_id
  • Metrics: request_count, error_count, response_time
  • Dashboards/Alerts: High Error Rate > 5%

Agent Directives & Error Recovery

(ข้อกำหนดสำหรับ AI Agent ในการคิดและแก้ปัญหาเมื่อเกิดข้อผิดพลาด)

• Thinking Process: Analyze root cause before fixing. Do not brute-force.
• Fallback Strategy: Stop after 3 failed test attempts. Output root cause and ask for human intervention/clarification.
• Self-Review: Check against Guardrails & Anti-patterns before finalizing.
• Output Constraints: Output ONLY the modified code block. Do not explain unless asked.

Definition of Done (DoD) Checklist

• Tests passed + coverage met
• Lint/Typecheck passed
• Logging/Metrics/Trace implemented
• Security checks passed
• Documentation/Changelog updated
• Accessibility/Performance requirements met (if frontend)

Anti-patterns / Pitfalls

• ⛔ Don't: Log PII, catch-all exception, N+1 queries
• ⚠️ Watch out for: Common symptoms and quick fixes
• 💡 Instead: Use proper error handling, pagination, and logging

Reference Links & Examples

• Internal documentation and examples
• Official documentation and best practices
• Community resources and discussions

Versioning & Changelog

• Version: 1.0.0
• Changelog:
  • 2026-02-22: Initial version with complete template structure