The Right Name Matters: Why Next.js 16 Renamed middleware.ts

Next.js's rename from middleware.ts to proxy.ts addresses a decade-long source of confusion: the 'middleware' name falsely implied Express.js-style capabilities, leading developers to misuse the feature as a security boundary it was never designed for. This deliberate rebranding signals that proxy.ts should be a last-resort interception layer, not your default routing strategy—a distinction critical for building secure SaaS applications.