All termsSystems
Middleware
An intermediary layer or product that sits between systems to broker, buffer, or adapt data — broader than a dedicated interface engine.
When to use it
Model middleware when a vendor's connecting component or gateway mediates traffic but isn't a full integration engine.
In plain terms
The adapter plug between two devices that wouldn't otherwise fit together.
Common gotchas
- "Middleware" is a fuzzy term — capture what it actually does (queue? transform? gateway?).
- It can hide transformations that surprise downstream teams.
- Ownership is often unclear between the two vendors it sits between.