Order of middleware: why it matters?

Short answer: Middleware is executed in the order it's added, and this order affects behavior.

Example code

app.UseAuthentication(); // Must come before authorization app.UseAuthorization(); app.UseEndpoints(...); Logging, error handling, and security middlewares must be early in the pipeline.

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.