Middleware - Laravel Routing

Middleware is a feature in Laravel that enables developers to execute code before or after the request is handled by the application. Middleware provides a way to filter HTTP requests. In this article, we will explore Laravel middleware with a focus on middleware used in routing.

Syntax

The syntax for adding middleware to a route in Laravel is as follows:

Route::get('/path', 'Controller@method')->middleware('middlewareName');

Example

Here is an example of how to add middleware to a route in Laravel:

Route::get('/admin/stats', 'AdminController@showStats')
    ->middleware('auth:admin')
    ->middleware('throttle:60');

In this example, we add two middleware to the /admin/stats route. The first middleware 'auth:admin' checks if the user is authenticated with the admin guard, and the second middleware 'throttle:60' limits the number of requests to 60 per minute.

Output

The middleware in the example above will be executed in the following order:

1. 'auth:admin' middleware checks if the user is authenticated with the admin guard.
2. If the user is authenticated, the 'throttle:60' middleware limits the number of requests to 60 per minute.
3. If the requests exceed the limit, the middleware will return a 429 Too Many Requests response.

Explanation

Middleware in Laravel is a way to filter HTTP requests. A middleware function can be executed before or after the request is handled by the application. Middleware functions can modify the request or response before they are sent to the client. For example, in a route that requires authentication, middleware can check if the user is authenticated. If the user is not authenticated, the middleware can redirect them to the login page.

Use

Middleware in Laravel can be used for various purposes, such as:

• Authentication
• Authorization
• Rate Limiting
• Redirecting
• Logging
• Input Validation

Middleware can be applied to individual routes, groups of routes or globally for all routes in the application.

Important Points

• Middleware is a way to filter HTTP requests in Laravel.
• Middleware can modify the request or response before they are returned to the client.
• Middleware can be applied to individual routes, groups of routes or globally for all routes in the application.

Summary

In this article, we explored middleware in Laravel with a focus on middleware used in routing. Middleware in Laravel provides a way to filter HTTP requests. Middleware can be executed before or after the request is handled by the application. Middleware functions can modify the request or response before they are sent to the client. Middleware can be used for various purposes, such as authentication, authorization, rate limiting, redirecting, logging, and input validation. By utilizing middleware in your Laravel application, you can add more functionality to your routes while keeping your code organized and easy to maintain.