Go HTTP Middleware

Introduction to Go HTTP Middleware

Go HTTP middleware functions allow you to chain handlers together for various purposes such as logging, authentication, and modifying requests or responses. Middleware functions act as a bridge, intercepting requests before they reach your main handler, and can perform operations like logging, authentication checks, or any other pre-processing.

Creating a Simple Middleware

To create a middleware in Go, you define a function that takes an http.Handler and returns another http.Handler. This pattern allows you to wrap existing handlers with additional logic.

Using Middleware with Handlers

Once you have defined a middleware, you can use it to wrap your handlers. This is done by passing your existing handler to the middleware function, which returns a new handler with the middleware logic applied.

Chaining Multiple Middleware

Middleware can be chained together to apply multiple layers of processing. For example, you might want to log requests and also check for authentication. Each middleware wraps the next, forming a chain of handlers.

Benefits of Using Middleware

Middleware allows for modular, reusable, and organized code. By separating concerns, you can apply common functionality across multiple handlers without duplicating code. This results in cleaner and more maintainable codebases.