feat(nextjs): Update middleware references to proxy for Next.js 16

[manovotny]

Description

Align terminology with Next.js 16 which renamed Middleware to Proxy. This includes renaming middleware.ts files to proxy.ts and updating all internal references and error messages throughout the codebase. The clerkMiddleware() function name remains unchanged.

Type of change

• 📖 Refactoring / dependency upgrade / documentation

Summary by CodeRabbit

• Documentation

  • Updated error messages and configuration guidance to reference proxy setup instead of middleware.

• Refactor

  • Renamed internal concepts and suggestions throughout the authentication system for consistency.

• Tests

  • Updated test scenarios and assertions to reflect new proxy terminology.

_{✏️ Tip: You can customize this high-level summary in your review settings.}

[vercel]

The latest updates on your projects. Learn more about Vercel for GitHub.

Project	Deployment	Actions	Updated (UTC)
clerk-js-sandbox	Ready	Preview, Comment	Jan 29, 2026 9:38pm

[changeset-bot]

⚠️ No Changeset found

Latest commit: 13727db

Merging this PR will not cause a version bump for any packages. If these changes should not result in a new version, you're good to go. If these changes should result in a version bump, you need to add a changeset.

This PR includes no changesets

When changesets are added to this PR, you'll see the packages that this PR includes changesets for and the associated semver types

Click here to learn what changesets are, and how to add one.

Click here if you're a maintainer who wants to add a changeset to this PR

[coderabbitai]

📝 Walkthrough

Walkthrough

The changes rename references from "middleware" to "proxy" across test files and source code. This includes test scenario descriptions, file path references, error messages, function names, and internal helper methods. File names are updated from middleware-location.js to proxy-location.js, function names change from suggestMiddlewareLocation to suggestProxyLocation, and internal helpers change from checkMiddlewareLocation to checkProxyLocation. Path assertions and error messages now reference proxy.ts instead of middleware.ts. The refactoring affects authentication setup, error handling, and file location detection logic throughout the Next.js integration.

🚥 Pre-merge checks | ✅ 2 | ❌ 1

❌ Failed checks (1 warning)

Check name	Status	Explanation	Resolution
Docstring Coverage	⚠️ Warning	Docstring coverage is 33.33% which is insufficient. The required threshold is 80.00%.	Write docstrings for the functions missing them to satisfy the coverage threshold.

✅ Passed checks (2 passed)

Check name	Status	Explanation
Description Check	✅ Passed	Check skipped - CodeRabbit’s high-level summary is enabled.
Title check	✅ Passed	The title clearly summarizes the main change: updating middleware references to proxy terminology in alignment with Next.js 16's naming convention.

_{✏️ Tip: You can configure your own custom pre-merge checks in the settings.}

---

Thanks for using CodeRabbit! It's free for OSS, and your support helps us grow. If you like it, consider giving us a shout-out.

❤️ Share

• X
• Mastodon
• Reddit
• LinkedIn

_{Comment @coderabbitai help to get the list of available commands and usage tips.}

[pkg-pr-new]

Open in StackBlitz

@clerk/agent-toolkit

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/agent-toolkit@7705

@clerk/astro

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/astro@7705

@clerk/backend

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/backend@7705

@clerk/chrome-extension

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/chrome-extension@7705

@clerk/clerk-js

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/clerk-js@7705

@clerk/dev-cli

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/dev-cli@7705

@clerk/expo

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/expo@7705

@clerk/expo-passkeys

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/expo-passkeys@7705

@clerk/express

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/express@7705

@clerk/fastify

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/fastify@7705

@clerk/localizations

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/localizations@7705

@clerk/nextjs

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/nextjs@7705

@clerk/nuxt

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/nuxt@7705

@clerk/react

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/react@7705

@clerk/react-router

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/react-router@7705

@clerk/shared

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/shared@7705

@clerk/tanstack-react-start

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/tanstack-react-start@7705

@clerk/testing

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/testing@7705

@clerk/ui

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/ui@7705

@clerk/upgrade

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/upgrade@7705

@clerk/vue

npm i https://pkg.pr.new/@clerk/vue@7705

commit: 13727db