LaravelHow-ToBeginner · 3 min read

How to Register Middleware in Laravel: Simple Guide

In Laravel, you register middleware by adding it to the app/Http/Kernel.php file either in the $middleware array for global middleware or in the $routeMiddleware array for route-specific middleware. Then, you can apply it to routes or controllers using the middleware name.

📐

Syntax

Middleware registration in Laravel happens mainly in the app/Http/Kernel.php file. You add your middleware class to one of these arrays:

$middleware: for global middleware that runs on every request.
$routeMiddleware: for middleware you want to assign to specific routes by a key name.

Example syntax for route middleware registration:

protected $routeMiddleware = [
    'auth' => \App\Http\Middleware\Authenticate::class,
    'custom' => \App\Http\Middleware\CustomMiddleware::class,
];

After registering, use the key (like 'custom') in your routes or controllers.

php

protected $routeMiddleware = [
    'auth' => \App\Http\Middleware\Authenticate::class,
    'custom' => \App\Http\Middleware\CustomMiddleware::class,
];

💻

Example

This example shows how to register a custom middleware and apply it to a route.

1. Create middleware with php artisan make:middleware CheckAge.

2. Register it in app/Http/Kernel.php under $routeMiddleware:

'check.age' => \App\Http\Middleware\CheckAge::class,

3. Use it in routes:

Route::get('/profile', function () {
    return 'Profile page';
})->middleware('check.age');

php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Middleware;

use Closure;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;

class CheckAge
{
    public function handle(Request $request, Closure $next)
    {
        if ($request->age < 18) {
            return redirect('home');
        }
        return $next($request);
    }
}

// In app/Http/Kernel.php
protected $routeMiddleware = [
    'check.age' => \App\Http\Middleware\CheckAge::class,
];

// In routes/web.php
Route::get('/profile', function () {
    return 'Profile page';
})->middleware('check.age');

Output

If request age < 18, user is redirected to 'home'; otherwise, 'Profile page' is shown.

⚠️

Common Pitfalls

Forgetting to register the middleware class in Kernel.php causes Laravel to not recognize it.
Using the full class name instead of the middleware key in routes will not work.
Not importing the middleware class correctly can cause errors.
Applying global middleware when route-specific is intended can slow down requests unnecessarily.

php

<?php
// Wrong: Using class name directly in route
Route::get('/dashboard', function () {
    return 'Dashboard';
})->middleware(\App\Http\Middleware\Authenticate::class); // This will fail

// Right: Use middleware key registered in Kernel.php
Route::get('/dashboard', function () {
    return 'Dashboard';
})->middleware('auth');

📊

Quick Reference

Step	Action	File/Location
1	Create middleware class	Run: php artisan make:middleware YourMiddleware
2	Register middleware	app/Http/Kernel.php in $middleware or $routeMiddleware
3	Use middleware	Apply key in routes or controllers with ->middleware('key')
4	Test middleware	Visit route to check behavior

✅

Key Takeaways

Use the middleware key from Kernel.php when applying middleware to routes.

Global middleware runs on every request; route middleware runs only where assigned.

Always create middleware classes with artisan for proper structure.

Test middleware by visiting routes to confirm expected behavior.