How does ASP.NET Core handle static files and why is the middleware special?

Static files (CSS, JavaScript, images, etc.) are served by the Static File Middleware, which is usually placed early in the pipeline.

When a request matches a static file in wwwroot (or another configured folder), the middleware serves it directly and short-circuits the pipeline, bypassing MVC and other components. This leads to better performance and avoids unnecessary computation for simple file requests.