Middleware for compression, caching, etc.?

Short answer: Use Response Compression Middleware to compress responses. Use Response Caching Middleware to cache GET responses. Middleware can be composed for layered processing.

Real-world example (ShopNest)

ShopNest pipeline order matters: exception handling → HTTPS → auth → authorization → endpoints. Auth must run before protected APIs.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.