diff --git a/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/README.md b/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/README.md
index f0ced63..456d5f0 100644
--- a/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/README.md
+++ b/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/README.md
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ The release build now does the full packaging pipeline:
 
 1. Generates branded icons in `src-tauri/icons/`
 2. Stages a desktop-only frontend export tree that omits Next server-only
-   routes/middleware (`src/app/api`, `src/middleware.ts`)
+   routes/proxy (`src/app/api`, `src/proxy.ts`)
 3. Stages a managed backend runtime bundle from `backend/` into
    `src-tauri/backend-runtime/`
 4. Builds the frontend export with `NEXT_OUTPUT=export`
diff --git a/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/RELEASE.md b/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/RELEASE.md
index e953722..03e6f8a 100644
--- a/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/RELEASE.md
+++ b/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/RELEASE.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ See [RELEASE_INPUTS.md](./RELEASE_INPUTS.md) for the plain-language answer to
 
 1. Generates the desktop icon set in `src-tauri/icons/`
 2. Stages a desktop-only frontend export tree that omits Next server-only
-   routes/middleware (`src/app/api`, `src/middleware.ts`)
+   routes/proxy (`src/app/api`, `src/proxy.ts`)
 3. Stages a managed backend runtime bundle into `src-tauri/backend-runtime/`
 4. Builds the frontend export with `NEXT_OUTPUT=export`
 5. Copies `frontend/out` into `src-tauri/companion-www/`
diff --git a/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/scripts/build-frontend-export.cjs b/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/scripts/build-frontend-export.cjs
index a67d9f3..fc44fbd 100644
--- a/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/scripts/build-frontend-export.cjs
+++ b/desktop-shell/tauri-skeleton/scripts/build-frontend-export.cjs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const excludedPaths = [
   '.next',
   'out',
   'src/app/api',
-  'src/middleware.ts',
+  'src/proxy.ts',
 ];
 
 function normalizeRelativePath(target) {
diff --git a/frontend/next.config.ts b/frontend/next.config.ts
index 9d9ee2a..a8818f7 100644
--- a/frontend/next.config.ts
+++ b/frontend/next.config.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ const skipTypecheck = process.env.NEXT_SKIP_TYPECHECK === '1';
 
 // Desktop packaging: set NEXT_OUTPUT=export to produce a static export
 // (frontend/out/) suitable for Tauri bundling and companion server hosting.
-// This disables API routes, middleware, and server-side image optimization —
+// This disables API routes, proxy, and server-side image optimization —
 // all handled by the Tauri shell and companion server in packaged mode.
 // Default remains 'standalone' for the web deployment (Docker/Vercel).
 const isDesktopExport = process.env.NEXT_OUTPUT === 'export';
 
-// CSP is now emitted dynamically by src/middleware.ts (Phase 5F-A) so that
+// CSP is now emitted dynamically by src/proxy.ts (Phase 5F-A) so that
 // each document response carries a unique per-request nonce.  Non-CSP
 // security headers remain here because they are static and benefit from
 // next.config's catch-all source matcher.
diff --git a/frontend/src/__tests__/csp/cspNoncePlumbing.test.ts b/frontend/src/__tests__/csp/cspNoncePlumbing.test.ts
index b17d7b0..f7a4695 100644
--- a/frontend/src/__tests__/csp/cspNoncePlumbing.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/__tests__/csp/cspNoncePlumbing.test.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  * 1. Document CSP remains hydration-safe for the Next.js runtime
  * 2. CSP is deterministic across repeated requests
  * 3. next.config.ts no longer owns a static CSP header
- * 4. Middleware does not break API/static routes (matcher exclusion)
+ * 4. Proxy does not break API/static routes (matcher exclusion)
  * 5. Google Fonts domains are preserved in CSP
  * 6. Production CSP preserves required directives
  */
@@ -13,26 +13,26 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
 import { NextRequest } from 'next/server';
 
-import { middleware, config as middlewareConfig } from '@/middleware';
+import { proxy, config as proxyConfig } from '@/proxy';
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Helpers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-/** Call middleware with a fake document request and return the response. */
-function callMiddleware(path = '/') {
+/** Call proxy with a fake document request and return the response. */
+function callProxy(path = '/') {
   const req = new NextRequest(`http://localhost${path}`, { method: 'GET' });
-  return middleware(req);
+  return proxy(req);
 }
 
-/** Extract the CSP header string from a middleware response. */
+/** Extract the CSP header string from a proxy response. */
 function getCsp(path = '/'): string {
-  return callMiddleware(path).headers.get('Content-Security-Policy') ?? '';
+  return callProxy(path).headers.get('Content-Security-Policy') ?? '';
 }
 
-/** Check whether the middleware matcher regex excludes a given path. */
+/** Check whether the proxy matcher regex excludes a given path. */
 function matcherExcludes(path: string): boolean {
-  const pattern = middlewareConfig.matcher[0];
+  const pattern = proxyConfig.matcher[0];
   // Next.js wraps the matcher in ^/<pattern>$ for path matching.
   // We replicate the essential check: the negative-lookahead prefix groups.
   const re = new RegExp(`^${pattern}$`);
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ describe('hydration-safe CSP header', () => {
     expect(csp).toMatch(/script-src [^;]*'unsafe-inline'/);
   });
 
-  it('middleware still returns a CSP header for document requests', () => {
+  it('proxy still returns a CSP header for document requests', () => {
     const csp = getCsp();
     expect(csp).toContain("default-src 'self'");
     expect(csp).toContain("script-src 'self'");
@@ -117,10 +117,10 @@ describe('next.config.ts CSP removal', () => {
 });
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// 4. Middleware does not break API/static routes
+// 4. Proxy does not break API/static routes
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-describe('middleware matcher exclusions', () => {
+describe('proxy matcher exclusions', () => {
   it('excludes /api paths', () => {
     expect(matcherExcludes('/api/mesh/events')).toBe(true);
   });
diff --git a/frontend/src/__tests__/csp/cspProductionHardening.test.ts b/frontend/src/__tests__/csp/cspProductionHardening.test.ts
index fe5d577..dab662e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/__tests__/csp/cspProductionHardening.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/__tests__/csp/cspProductionHardening.test.ts
@@ -13,19 +13,19 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { NextRequest } from 'next/server';
 
-import { middleware, config as middlewareConfig } from '@/middleware';
+import { proxy, config as proxyConfig } from '@/proxy';
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Helpers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function callMiddleware(path = '/') {
+function callProxy(path = '/') {
   const req = new NextRequest(`http://localhost${path}`, { method: 'GET' });
-  return middleware(req);
+  return proxy(req);
 }
 
 function getCsp(path = '/'): string {
-  return callMiddleware(path).headers.get('Content-Security-Policy') ?? '';
+  return callProxy(path).headers.get('Content-Security-Policy') ?? '';
 }
 
 /** Extract a single CSP directive by name. */
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ function getDirective(name: string, csp?: string): string {
 }
 
 function matcherExcludes(path: string): boolean {
-  const pattern = middlewareConfig.matcher[0];
+  const pattern = proxyConfig.matcher[0];
   const re = new RegExp(`^${pattern}$`);
   return !re.test(path);
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/middleware.ts b/frontend/src/proxy.ts
similarity index 96%
rename from frontend/src/middleware.ts
rename to frontend/src/proxy.ts
index e6cc998..cc6f223 100644
--- a/frontend/src/middleware.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/proxy.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /**
- * Phase 5F-A: CSP nonce plumbing middleware.
+ * Phase 5F-A: CSP nonce plumbing proxy.
  *
  * Generates a per-request cryptographic nonce and emits a dynamic
  * Content-Security-Policy header for document (page) responses.
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ function buildCsp(nonce: string, strictScripts = false): string {
   return directives.join('; ');
 }
 
-export function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
+export function proxy(request: NextRequest) {
   const nonce = Buffer.from(crypto.randomUUID()).toString('base64');
 
   // Forward a nonce for staged CSP support. Strict script-src is opt-in until