Ordre des intergiciels et process_view

The MIDDLEWARE list is ordered, and that order controls which layer wraps which. Swapping two entries can change behavior entirely.

On the way in, Django runs middleware top to bottom. The first entry is the outermost layer that sees the request first.

On the way out, the order reverses. The bottom middleware processes the response first as it travels back up the stack.

Picture the list as nested boxes: the top item is the biggest box. Requests go inward, responses come back out in reverse order.

SecurityMiddleware sits near the top so its checks run before anything else. Placement is how Django guarantees that priority.

Beyond the basic call, middleware can define process_view, which Django calls right before the chosen view runs.

process_view gets the request, the view function, and its captured args and kwargs, so you can inspect or even replace the call.

Return None from process_view to let Django continue normally. Return a response instead to skip the view entirely.

Django also supports process_exception and process_template_response for finer control over errors and template-based responses.

process_view runs across middleware in list order, so the same ordering rules shape these special hooks just like the main flow.

If a header or check seems ignored, suspect the order first. Move the middleware up or down until the layering matches your intent.

You saw that middleware order sets the wrap sequence, top runs first inbound, and process_view fires just before the view, returning None to continue. ✅