diff --git a/flight/Engine.php b/flight/Engine.php
index 44affc1..cacd19e 100644
--- a/flight/Engine.php
+++ b/flight/Engine.php
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
 
 namespace flight;
 
+use Closure;
 use ErrorException;
 use Exception;
 use flight\core\Dispatcher;
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ use flight\net\Response;
 use flight\net\Router;
 use flight\template\View;
 use Throwable;
+use flight\net\Route;
 
 /**
  * The Engine class contains the core functionality of the framework.
@@ -32,12 +34,12 @@ use Throwable;
  * @method void halt(int $code = 200, string $message = '') Stops processing and returns a given response.
  * 
  * Routing
- * @method void route(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a URL to a callback function with all applicable methods
+ * @method Route route(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a URL to a callback function with all applicable methods
  * @method void group(string $pattern, callable $callback) Groups a set of routes together under a common prefix.
- * @method void post(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a POST URL to a callback function.
- * @method void put(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a PUT URL to a callback function.
- * @method void patch(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a PATCH URL to a callback function.
- * @method void delete(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a DELETE URL to a callback function.
+ * @method Route post(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a POST URL to a callback function.
+ * @method Route put(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a PUT URL to a callback function.
+ * @method Route patch(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a PATCH URL to a callback function.
+ * @method Route delete(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a DELETE URL to a callback function.
  * @method Router router() Gets router
  * @method string getUrl(string $alias) Gets a url from an alias
  *
@@ -375,6 +377,7 @@ class Engine
         ob_start();
 
         // Route the request
+		$failed_middleware_check = false;
         while ($route = $router->route($request)) {
             $params = array_values($route->params);
 
@@ -383,11 +386,60 @@ class Engine
                 $params[] = $route;
             }
 
+			// Run any before middlewares
+			if(count($route->middleware) > 0) {
+				foreach($route->middleware as $middleware) {
+
+					$middleware_object = (is_callable($middleware) === true ? $middleware : (method_exists($middleware, 'before') === true ? [ $middleware, 'before' ]: false));
+
+					if($middleware_object === false) {
+						continue;
+					}
+
+					// It's assumed if you don't declare before, that it will be assumed as the before method
+					$middleware_result = $this->dispatcher->execute(
+						$middleware_object,
+						$params
+					);
+
+					if ($middleware_result === false) {
+						$failed_middleware_check = true;
+						break 2;
+					}
+				}
+			}
+
             // Call route handler
             $continue = $this->dispatcher->execute(
                 $route->callback,
                 $params
             );
+			
+
+			// Run any before middlewares
+			if(count($route->middleware) > 0) {
+				
+				// process the middleware in reverse order now
+				foreach(array_reverse($route->middleware) as $middleware) {
+
+					// must be an object. No functions allowed here
+					$middleware_object = is_object($middleware) === true && !($middleware instanceof Closure) && method_exists($middleware, 'after') === true ? [ $middleware, 'after' ] : false;
+
+					// has to have the after method, otherwise just skip it
+					if($middleware_object === false) {
+						continue;
+					}
+
+					$middleware_result = $this->dispatcher->execute(
+						$middleware_object,
+						$params
+					);
+					if ($middleware_result === false) {
+						$failed_middleware_check = true;
+						break 2;
+					}
+				}
+			}
 
             $dispatched = true;
 
@@ -400,7 +452,9 @@ class Engine
             $dispatched = false;
         }
 
-        if (!$dispatched) {
+		if($failed_middleware_check === true) {
+			$this->halt(403, 'Forbidden');
+		} else if($dispatched === false) {
             $this->notFound();
         }
     }
@@ -464,10 +518,11 @@ class Engine
      * @param callable $callback   Callback function
      * @param bool     $pass_route Pass the matching route object to the callback
 	 * @param string   $alias      the alias for the route
+	 * @return Route
      */
-    public function _route(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): void
+    public function _route(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): Route
     {
-        $this->router()->map($pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
+        return $this->router()->map($pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
     }
 
 	/**
diff --git a/flight/Flight.php b/flight/Flight.php
index fd3772c..c5b61e0 100644
--- a/flight/Flight.php
+++ b/flight/Flight.php
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use flight\net\Request;
 use flight\net\Response;
 use flight\net\Router;
 use flight\template\View;
+use flight\net\Route;
 
 /**
  * The Flight class is a static representation of the framework.
@@ -23,12 +24,12 @@ use flight\template\View;
  * @method  static void stop() Stops the framework and sends a response.
  * @method  static void halt(int $code = 200, string $message = '') Stop the framework with an optional status code and message.
  *
- * @method  static void route(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Maps a URL pattern to a callback with all applicable methods.
+ * @method  static Route route(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Maps a URL pattern to a callback with all applicable methods.
  * @method  static void group(string $pattern, callable $callback) Groups a set of routes together under a common prefix.
- * @method  static void post(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a POST URL to a callback function.
- * @method  static void put(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a PUT URL to a callback function.
- * @method  static void patch(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a PATCH URL to a callback function.
- * @method  static void delete(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a DELETE URL to a callback function.
+ * @method  static Route post(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a POST URL to a callback function.
+ * @method  static Route put(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a PUT URL to a callback function.
+ * @method  static Route patch(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a PATCH URL to a callback function.
+ * @method  static Route delete(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = '') Routes a DELETE URL to a callback function.
  * @method  static Router router() Returns Router instance.
  * @method  static string getUrl(string $alias) Gets a url from an alias
  *
diff --git a/flight/net/Route.php b/flight/net/Route.php
index 63b1bf0..5f45392 100644
--- a/flight/net/Route.php
+++ b/flight/net/Route.php
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ final class Route
 	 */
 	public string $alias = '';
 
+	/**
+	 * @var array<callable> The middleware to be applied to the route
+	 */
+	public array $middleware = [];
+
     /**
      * Constructor.
      *
@@ -190,4 +195,29 @@ final class Route
 		$url = rtrim($url, '/');
 		return $url;
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Sets the route alias
+	 *
+	 * @return self
+	 */
+	public function setAlias(string $alias): self {
+		$this->alias = $alias;
+		return $this;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Sets the route middleware
+	 *
+	 * @param array<callable>|callable $middleware
+	 * @return self
+	 */
+	public function addMiddleware($middleware): self {
+		if(is_array($middleware) === true) {
+			$this->middleware = array_merge($this->middleware, $middleware);
+		} else {
+			$this->middleware[] = $middleware;
+		}
+		return $this;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/flight/net/Router.php b/flight/net/Router.php
index f825616..cd49c9a 100644
--- a/flight/net/Router.php
+++ b/flight/net/Router.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class Router
     public bool $case_sensitive = false;
     /**
      * Mapped routes.
-     * @var array<int, Route>
+     * @var array<int,Route>
      */
     protected array $routes = [];
 
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ class Router
 	 */
 	protected string $group_prefix = '';
 
+	/**
+	 * Group Middleware
+	 *
+	 * @var array
+	 */
+	protected array $group_middlewares = [];
+
     /**
      * Gets mapped routes.
      *
@@ -67,9 +74,9 @@ class Router
      * @param callable $callback   Callback function
      * @param bool     $pass_route Pass the matching route object to the callback
 	 * @param string   $route_alias Alias for the route
-	 * @return void
+	 * @return Route
      */
-    public function map(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $route_alias = ''): void
+    public function map(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $route_alias = ''): Route
     {
         $url = trim($pattern);
         $methods = ['*'];
@@ -80,7 +87,16 @@ class Router
             $methods = explode('|', $method);
         }
 
-        $this->routes[] = new Route($this->group_prefix.$url, $callback, $methods, $pass_route, $route_alias);
+		$route = new Route($this->group_prefix.$url, $callback, $methods, $pass_route, $route_alias);
+
+		// to handle group middleware
+		foreach($this->group_middlewares as $gm) {
+			$route->addMiddleware($gm);
+		}
+
+        $this->routes[] = $route;
+
+		return $route;
     }
 
 	/**
@@ -90,10 +106,10 @@ class Router
      * @param callable $callback   Callback function
      * @param bool     $pass_route Pass the matching route object to the callback
 	 * @param string   $alias 	   Alias for the route
-	 * @return void
+	 * @return Route
 	 */
-	public function get(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): void {
-		$this->map('GET ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
+	public function get(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): Route {
+		return $this->map('GET ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -103,10 +119,10 @@ class Router
 	 * @param callable $callback   Callback function
 	 * @param bool     $pass_route Pass the matching route object to the callback
 	 * @param string   $alias 	   Alias for the route
-	 * @return void
+	 * @return Route
 	 */
-	public function post(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): void {
-		$this->map('POST ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
+	public function post(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): Route {
+		return $this->map('POST ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -116,10 +132,10 @@ class Router
 	 * @param callable $callback   Callback function
 	 * @param bool     $pass_route Pass the matching route object to the callback
 	 * @param string   $alias 	   Alias for the route
-	 * @return void
+	 * @return Route
 	 */
-	public function put(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): void {
-		$this->map('PUT ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
+	public function put(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): Route {
+		return $this->map('PUT ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -129,10 +145,10 @@ class Router
 	 * @param callable $callback   Callback function
 	 * @param bool     $pass_route Pass the matching route object to the callback
 	 * @param string   $alias 	   Alias for the route
-	 * @return void
+	 * @return Route
 	 */
-	public function patch(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): void {
-		$this->map('PATCH ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
+	public function patch(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): Route {
+		return $this->map('PATCH ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -142,10 +158,10 @@ class Router
 	 * @param callable $callback   Callback function
 	 * @param bool     $pass_route Pass the matching route object to the callback
 	 * @param string   $alias 	   Alias for the route
-	 * @return void
+	 * @return Route
 	 */
-	public function delete(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): void {
-		$this->map('DELETE ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
+	public function delete(string $pattern, callable $callback, bool $pass_route = false, string $alias = ''): Route {
+		return $this->map('DELETE ' . $pattern, $callback, $pass_route, $alias);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -153,13 +169,17 @@ class Router
 	 *
 	 * @param string   $group_prefix group URL prefix (such as /api/v1)
 	 * @param callable $callback     The necessary calling that holds the Router class
+	 * @param array<int,mixed>  $middlewares The middlewares to be applied to the group Ex: [ $middleware1, $middleware2 ]
 	 * @return void
 	 */
-	public function group(string $group_prefix, callable $callback): void {
+	public function group(string $group_prefix, callable $callback, array $group_middlewares = []): void {
 		$old_group_prefix = $this->group_prefix;
+		$old_group_middlewares = $this->group_middlewares;
 		$this->group_prefix .= $group_prefix;
+		$this->group_middlewares = array_merge($this->group_middlewares, $group_middlewares);
 		$callback($this);
 		$this->group_prefix = $old_group_prefix;
+		$this->group_middlewares = $old_group_middlewares;
 	}
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/EngineTest.php b/tests/EngineTest.php
index e1b9aaf..8c0697e 100644
--- a/tests/EngineTest.php
+++ b/tests/EngineTest.php
@@ -272,4 +272,77 @@ class EngineTest extends PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
 		$url = $engine->getUrl('path1', [ 'param' => 123 ]);
 		$this->assertEquals('/path1/123', $url);
 	}
+
+	public function testMiddlewareCallableFunction() {
+		$engine = new Engine();
+		$engine->route('/path1/@id', function($id) { echo 'OK'.$id; })
+			->addMiddleware(function($id) { echo 'before'.$id; });
+		$engine->request()->url = '/path1/123';
+		$engine->start();
+		$this->expectOutputString('before123OK123');
+	}
+
+	public function testMiddlewareCallableFunctionReturnFalse() {
+		$engine = new class extends Engine {
+			public function _halt(int $code = 200, string $message = ''): void
+			{
+				$this->response()->status($code);
+				$this->response()->write($message);
+			}
+		};
+		$engine->route('/path1/@id', function($id) { echo 'OK'.$id; })
+			->addMiddleware(function($id) { echo 'before'.$id; return false; });
+		$engine->request()->url = '/path1/123';
+		$engine->start();
+		$this->expectOutputString('Forbiddenbefore123');
+		$this->assertEquals(403, $engine->response()->status());
+	}
+
+	public function testMiddlewareClassBefore() {
+		$middleware = new class {
+			public function before($id) {
+				echo 'before'.$id;
+			}
+		};
+		$engine = new Engine();
+		
+		$engine->route('/path1/@id',  function($id) { echo 'OK'.$id; })
+			->addMiddleware($middleware);
+		$engine->request()->url = '/path1/123';
+		$engine->start();
+		$this->expectOutputString('before123OK123');
+	}
+
+	public function testMiddlewareClassBeforeAndAfter() {
+		$middleware = new class {
+			public function before($id) {
+				echo 'before'.$id;
+			}
+			public function after($id) {
+				echo 'after'.$id;
+			}
+		};
+		$engine = new Engine();
+		
+		$engine->route('/path1/@id',  function($id) { echo 'OK'.$id; })
+			->addMiddleware($middleware);
+		$engine->request()->url = '/path1/123';
+		$engine->start();
+		$this->expectOutputString('before123OK123after123');
+	}
+
+	public function testMiddlewareClassAfter() {
+		$middleware = new class {
+			public function after($id) {
+				echo 'after'.$id;
+			}
+		};
+		$engine = new Engine();
+		
+		$engine->route('/path1/@id',  function($id) { echo 'OK'.$id; })
+			->addMiddleware($middleware);
+		$engine->request()->url = '/path1/123';
+		$engine->start();
+		$this->expectOutputString('OK123after123');
+	}
 }