Middleware is a name for any software application that connects two applications, or enables applications and end users to interact over a network. General-purpose middleware can be seen as residing between applications and network services, as shown in the image below.
It's important to understand that middleware acts as a continuous translator between the commands and structures of two diverse programs.
Its role is not simply I/O related (import/export). It is in continuous use for the active processing and translation services necessary for the transference of data between the programs.
The Slide Show below shows how middleware mediates between application functions and users over network services.

In the next lesson, your task is to review what you have learned in this module.
Click the Quiz link below to check your knowledge of some of the applications you have been learning about.
Reviewing Applications - Quiz