What is the role of middleware in Django?

Instruction: Explain what middleware is and how it is used in Django applications.

Context: This question evaluates the candidate's knowledge of middleware and its purpose in the request/response lifecycle within a Django application.

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At its core, middleware in Django serves as a framework of hooks and a series of lightweight plugins that process requests before they reach the view and responses before they're sent to the user. It's a flexible tool that allows us to modify Django's request/response processing. Essentially, middleware is a way to globally alter Django's input or output without changing Django's code itself.

Middleware components in Django are executed sequentially, following the order defined in the MIDDLEWARE setting of the Django project settings file. This sequence is crucial because it dictates how requests are processed and responses are prepared. For instance, middleware can be used for session management, user...

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