## Create a middleware

To create a middleware you use the decorator `@app.middleware("http")` on top of a function.

The middleware function receives:

* The `request`.
* A function `call_next` that will receive the `request` as a parameter.
    * This function will pass the `request` to the corresponding *path operation*.
    * Then it returns the `response` generated by the corresponding *path operation*.

# Response Model - Return Type

You can declare the type used for the response by annotating the *path operation function* **return type**.

You can use **type annotations** the same way you would for input data in function **parameters**, you can use Pydantic models, lists, dictionaries, scalar values like integers, booleans, etc.

=== "Python 3.10+"

    ```Python hl_lines="16  21"
    {!> ../../../docs_src/response_model/tutorial001_01_py310.py!}
    ```

### Step 4: define the **path operation function**

This is our "**path operation function**":

* **path**: is `/`.
* **operation**: is `get`.
* **function**: is the function below the "decorator" (below `@app.get("/")`).

```Python hl_lines="7"
{!../../../docs_src/first_steps/tutorial001.py!}
```

This is a Python function.

# Background Tasks - `BackgroundTasks`

You can declare a parameter in a *path operation function* or dependency function with the type `BackgroundTasks`, and then you can use it to schedule the execution of background tasks after the response is sent.

You can import it directly from `fastapi`:

```python
from fastapi import BackgroundTasks
```

### Custom Generate Unique ID Function

FastAPI uses a **unique ID** for each *path operation*, it is used for the **operation ID** and also for the names of any needed custom models, for requests or responses.

You can customize that function. It takes an `APIRoute` and outputs a string.

# Get Current User

In the previous chapter the security system (which is based on the dependency injection system) was giving the *path operation function* a `token` as a `str`:

=== "Python 3.9+"

    ```Python hl_lines="12"
    {!> ../../../docs_src/security/tutorial001_an_py39.py!}
    ```

=== "Python 3.8+"

    ```Python hl_lines="11"
    {!> ../../../docs_src/security/tutorial001_an.py!}
    ```

=== "Python 3.8+ non-Annotated"

    Remember that when you import `Query`, `Path`, and others from `fastapi`, those are actually functions that return special classes.

!!! tip
    Notice how each model's attribute with a type, default value and `Field` has the same structure as a *path operation function's* parameter, with `Field` instead of `Path`, `Query` and `Body`.

## Add extra information

So, if you run this example and go to <a href="http://127.0.0.1:8000/items/foo" class="external-link" target="_blank">http://127.0.0.1:8000/items/foo</a>, you will see a response of:

```JSON
{"item_id":"foo"}
```

## Path parameters with types

You can declare the type of a path parameter in the function, using standard Python type annotations:

# `Request` class

You can declare a parameter in a *path operation function* or dependency to be of type `Request` and then you can access the raw request object directly, without any validation, etc.

You can import it directly from `fastapi`:

```python
from fastapi import Request
```

!!! tip

8. Notice that this *path operation function* uses regular `def` instead of `async def`.

    As always, in FastAPI you can combine `def` and `async def` as needed.

    If you need a refresher about when to use which, check out the section _"In a hurry?"_ in the docs about [`async` and `await`](../async.md#in-a-hurry){.internal-link target=_blank}.