Middleware
Software that sits between two applications and translates data between them. n8n, Make, and Zapier all function as middleware they receive data from one system, process it, and pass it to another.
Expert insight
Middleware becomes a single point of failure for every integration running through it, if n8n or Make goes down, every connected workflow stops simultaneously, not just one. That's a reasonable trade-off for the visibility and control it gives you, but it means the middleware platform itself needs uptime monitoring and a clear escalation plan, not just the individual workflows running on it.
In a real workflow
A small middleware service receives webhooks, validates them and forwards clean events to several tools.
Common mistakes
- Adding middleware where a direct integration would be simpler.
- Making the middleware a single point of failure without monitoring.
Complexity level
Requires some familiarity with automation concepts.
Related terms
iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service)
A cloud-based platform that connects disparate applications and allows data to f…
Integration
A connection between two tools that allows data to flow between them. Can be nat…
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of rules that allow two software applications to communicate. Most automat…
See it in action
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Go deeper
Guides that cover Middleware
10 Marketing Automation Platforms Compared: The 2026 PURIST Fit Score
10 marketing automation platforms scored on setup-to-value, integration depth, true cost at scale, and automation depth, including the real per-contact pricing curve nobody publishes.
Stripe to QuickBooks Integration: The Automation That Eliminates Manual Bookkeeping
Every Stripe payment that gets manually re-entered into QuickBooks costs 4-7 minutes and carries a 12% error rate. Here is the integration that ends that entirely, syncing every charge, refund, and subscription event in real time.
Student Enrollment Automation: How Schools Cut Admin Time by 70%
Manual enrollment processing costs schools 45-90 minutes per student across document collection, verification, and system entry. Automation reduces that to under 8 minutes while improving data accuracy.