Middleware is software that facilitates communication and interaction between diverse applications, enhancing their functionality and reducing development time. It includes various types such as message-oriented, database, and cloud middleware, each serving specific roles in application connectivity. The benefits of middleware include easy scaling, improved legacy system capabilities, cost reduction, automation of business processes, and fostering innovation.

1. Middleware – Its Types, Architecture, and Benefits
What is Middleware?
Middleware refers to software that enables interaction, connectivity, and communication
between different applications or application components. It also allows for the transmission of
information between different applications that were not originally designed to connect with each
other, thus giving new functionality.
The term middleware refers to the software’s mediatory role between an application’s front and
back end (specialized hardware device, database, or mainframe application). Middleware
software optimizes the application development process by offering the opportunity to connect
diverse applications. It thereby reduces the time to market. Moreover, it provides a standardized
user experience.
This article explains middleware, its types, architecture, and benefits.
Types of Middleware
There are many types of middleware depending on the type of capabilities they offer. We have
listed the common types below.
1. Message-oriented middleware
It enables applications to communicate with each other through messages across different
network protocols and operating systems.
2. Database middleware
It allows access to and interaction with various database gateways. It is the most common
middleware.
3. Portals
Businesses use portals to enable interaction between the backend and client-facing systems.
4. Transactional

2. It functions as a means to ensure that electronic transactions are executed properly in a
distributed network.
5. Enterprise application integration
It links data, processes, applications, and services regardless of their location (on-premises or
cloud) and technology. Moreover, it allows for the free flow of data between applications
without needing any major changes in the applications or database configurations.
6. RPC middleware
Remote Procedure Call middleware allows a program to request a service from or trigger an
action in another program residing on another computer. It is also called a subroutine call or a
function call.
7. Content-Centric
It is used to abstract particular content without dwelling on how it is acquired.
8. ORB
An Object Request Broker, also known as object middleware, allows program calls to be made
between computers using a computer network. Applications use it to request services or send
objects through an object-oriented system.
9. Device middleware
It gives an assortment of connectivity and integration capabilities to develop applications for a
certain mobile operating system.
10. Platform middleware
It allows business logic to be located on any operating system or hardware platform, including
application servers, web servers, containers, or hosting environments.
11. Application Server
It is a framework that allows you to create, deploy, and maintain enterprise-grade applications in
a system.

3. 12. Web middleware
It enables easy integrations with individual backend systems.
13. Cloud middleware
It lies between two apps/devices and lets you create a connection between any two servers, apps,
databases, or clients. It is a remote platform that allows you to create, manage, and interact with
the hosted data and applications.
14. Robotics middleware
It allows for easy integration of robotic software, hardware, and firmware regardless of the
location and manufacturer of the robots.
Middleware Architecture
This software is usually software-based and hardly involves hardware components. It serves as a
technical virtual layer between platforms and applications and normally follows the service-
oriented architecture (SOA) approach. Sometimes, it is also offered as a platform-as-a-service
(Paas) solution.
A generic middleware software comprises the following components:
Middleware Management Console
It offers a comprehensive bird’s eye view of this software architecture. It is particularly
important for enterprise-grade applications designed specifically for achieving business needs
and goals. The console offers an overview of contract rules, events and activities, configuration
management, and transactions in the middleware.
Common Messaging Framework
Middleware software needs messaging capabilities to interact and communicate with platforms,
applications, and services. Usually, these frameworks bank on standards like REST, JSON, and
SOAP. The interaction takes place using application programming interfaces (APIs) or web

4. services, and the common messaging framework needs to be appropriately designed, keeping in
view the expected and existing features.
Client Interface (application interface)
This is the outer part of software that interacts with applications. It employs predetermined
constructs to start a transaction involving a platform, database, or backend servers. Moreover, its
primary benefit is that it disentangles the application development and deployment processes.
Middleware Internal Interface
It instances use this interface to enable interaction with each other and to maintain the integrity
of the middleware structure. It is needed to allow this instances to work in tandem with each
other and to seem like a unified continuous layer.
Platform Interface
This software has to function across different platforms no matter where it resides. It is this
instance that communicates directly with backend servers. Moreover, every time a cloud
provider introduces a new platform, it has to update this interface in order to support it. Other
components of the software largely remain the same.
Contract Manager
It enforces the various directives of applications, servers, and data controls. All interactions have
to follow these directives and rules so as to minimize breakage and ensure transparency. The
contract manager also guarantees that business logic remains valid and intact. If there are any
contract violations, they are sent back to the application to keep the system from going down.
Session Manager
It ensures that all interactions and transactions are valid and allows requests to have a
bidirectional flow. Moreover, it handles the session history to enable auditing. Lastly, a session
manager makes sure your middleware is safe and secure.
Runtime Monitor

5. It tracks session histories, requests and responses, and contract validations. IT teams use it to
identify any abnormal activity, and it serves as the foundation for audit reports by reporting
engines.
Apart from these components, middleware software may require a database manager and/or
other specific services to meet its needs.
Benefits of Middleware
 Enables easy scaling – Using middleware, you can quickly scale without agitating the status
quo. For example, if there is a significant surge in application traffic, the software simply
distributes the user requests across different servers to ease the load. And since many
middleware software functions on predefined strategies and topographies, scaling is hardly ever
an issue.
 Enhances legacy system capabilities – Technology is evolving at a lightning pace, and many
companies cannot keep up with it – they continue to rely on their legacy systems. If a business
wants to phase out a legacy system gradually or add new capabilities the best option.
 Reduces costs – A critical benefit of middleware software is that it significantly reduces the cost
of developing and running apps at scale. Moreover, it also reduces integration and update costs.
 Automation – You can use this to automate business processes by joining different bits of
business operations with predefined controls and protocols. Moreover, middleware offers
business executives and developers the opportunity to automate manual processes by giving
insights.
 Encourages innovation – A vital benefit of this software is that you can update your
applications as new technologies emerge and try out new applications faster. Thus, it reduces the
time to develop and deploy applications.
Conclusion
In today’s rapidly changing technology landscape, middleware has become an essential
component of IT infrastructure for companies. You need to take all the stakeholders on board
and conduct detailed planning before introducing middleware to your company infrastructure.
Many companies already use this, but some are unaware of it. You, too, need to consider this
software for the benefits it offers to your business. In the end, the race to keep up with
technological change will define your enterprise’s success (or failure).
If you need any help with middleware software development, contact us at info@xavor.com.