# Middleware

There are several middlewares available provided by Starlette directly.

Read more about them in the [FastAPI docs for Middleware](https://fastapi.tiangolo.com/advanced/middleware/).

::: fastapi.middleware.cors.CORSMiddleware

It can be imported from `fastapi`:

```python
from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
```

::: fastapi.middleware.gzip.GZipMiddleware

It can be imported from `fastapi`:

```Python
from unicorn import UnicornMiddleware

app = SomeASGIApp()

new_app = UnicornMiddleware(app, some_config="rainbow")
```

But FastAPI (actually Starlette) provides a simpler way to do it that makes sure that the internal middlewares to handle server errors and custom exception handlers work properly.

For that, you use `app.add_middleware()` (as in the example for CORS).

```Python

!!! note "Technical Details"
    You could also use `from starlette.requests import Request`.

    **FastAPI** provides it as a convenience for you, the developer. But it comes directly from Starlette.

### Before and after the `response`

You can add code to be run with the `request`,  before any *path operation* receives it.