What is Request Pipeline?

The request pipeline is simply: The path an HTTP request follows inside ASP.NET Core before a response is returned. Think of it like a chain of steps. When a user sends a request like: https://yourwebsite.com/api/users that request does NOT directly go to the controller. Instead, it passes through multiple stages first. How the pipeline actually works Imagine this flow: Client → Server → Middleware 1 → Middleware 2 → Middleware 3 → Controller → Response → Back through middleware → Client So every request must pass through middleware before reaching the controller. And every response passes back through the same pipeline. Real example of what happens internally When someone opens your API endpoint: GET /api/users ASP.NET Core processes it like this: Request reaches the server Authentication middleware checks if the user is logged in Authorization middleware checks if the user has permission Routing middleware finds which controller should handle the request Controller executes the logic