What is middleware?

Entry printed from Oxford English Dictionary Online
Copyright © Oxford University Press 2008

middleware, n.

DRAFT ENTRY Dec. 2007

Computing.

Software that acts as a bridge between an operating system and applications, esp. among networked clients or a distributed system (see also quot. 1970).
1969 A. D'AGAPEYEFF in P. Naur & B. Randell Software Engin. (Rep. Conf. NATO Sci. Comm. 1968) 23 At the bottom are the control programs, then the various service routines. Further up we have what I call middleware. 1970 A. CHANDOR et al. Dict. Computers 254 Middleware, computer manufacturer's software which has been tailored to the particular needs of an installation. 1972 Accountant 27 Apr. 537/2 A comparatively new term ‘middleware’ was introduced because, as some systems had become ‘uniquely complex’, standard operating systems required enhancement or modification; the programs that effected this were called ‘middleware’ because they came between the operating system and the application programs. 1993 Computing 30 Sept. 30 As more and more businesses opt for distributed systems, it should be remembered that, without middleware, clients and servers would not be able to talk to one another. 1998 Industry Standard 13 July 25/2 The backend system was made up of Netscape's e-commerce server running on Sun's workstations and Solaris OS, a Sybase database and middleware from Software Engine. 2000 Red Herring Feb. 304/3 (advt.) Clients include marquis organizations setting the standards for emerging technologies, including; E-commerce (b2b, b2c), middleware, software, internet infrastructure, and sales & marketing.