feat(update): allow clearing values with "" and null on update

Update handlers skipped empty strings and nulls, so a client could not
blank or null out a column. Every key present in the payload now
overwrites the stored value, including "" and null.

- add common.MergeUpdateValues and use it in resolvespec and restheadspec
- add Handler.SetDisallowNulls to skip null values (""still overwrites)
- websocketspec and mqttspec now write only the keys present in the
  payload via SetMap instead of updating the whole zeroed model, which
  clobbered absent fields

README.md

@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ Centralized management of multiple database connections with support for Postgre
 - Background health checks (report status; they never close the pool)
 - Prometheus metrics for monitoring
 - Configuration-driven via YAML
-- Per-connection statistics and management
+- Per-connection statistics and management, including pool limit (`max`) and total connections ever opened (`dbmanager_connection_pool_size{state="max"}`, `dbmanager_connections_opened_total`)
 
 **How to use it correctly**:
 
@@ -618,7 +618,15 @@ For documentation, see [pkg/security/README.md](pkg/security/README.md) (see "Di
 
 #### Middleware
 
-HTTP middleware collection for common tasks (CORS, logging, metrics, etc.).
+HTTP middleware collection for common tasks (CORS, logging, metrics, rate limiting, etc.).
+
+**Client request queue** (`middleware.ClientQueue`): limits how many requests each client runs concurrently and queues the rest first-in-first-out, smoothing bursts such as a page load that fires ~15 requests at once. Clients are identified by `X-Client-Id`, then `Authorization`, then the built-in session, then IP, so no client changes are required. Exposes burst, wait and queue-depth Prometheus metrics. Add it through the middleware slot of `SetupMuxRoutes` / `SetupBunRouterRoutes`:
+
+```go
+q := middleware.NewClientQueue(middleware.ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 10})
+defer q.Close()
+restheadspec.SetupMuxRoutes(router, handler, middleware.Chain(authMiddleware, q.Middleware))
+```
 
 For documentation, see [pkg/middleware/README.md](pkg/middleware/README.md).
 
@@ -657,7 +665,7 @@ For documentation, see [pkg/config/README.md](pkg/config/README.md).
 * Implement proper authentication and authorization
 * Validate all input parameters
 * Use prepared statements (handled by GORM/Bun/your ORM)
-* Implement rate limiting
+* Implement rate limiting (`middleware.RateLimiter`) and per-client request queueing (`middleware.ClientQueue`)
 * Control access at schema/entity level
 * **New**: Database abstraction layer provides additional security through interface boundaries
 

cmd/testserver/main.go

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/dbmanager"
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/logger"
+	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/middleware"
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/modelregistry"
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/server"
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/testmodels"
@@ -67,8 +68,13 @@ func main() {
 		handler.RegisterModel("public", modelNames[i], model)
 	}
 
+	// Queue requests per client (X-Client-Id, Authorization, session, then IP)
+	// so a burst such as a page load cannot flood the database pool.
+	queue := middleware.NewClientQueue(middleware.ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 10})
+	defer queue.Close()
+
 	// Setup routes using new SetupMuxRoutes function (without authentication)
-	resolvespec.SetupMuxRoutes(r, handler, nil)
+	resolvespec.SetupMuxRoutes(r, handler, middleware.Chain(queue.Middleware))
 
 	// Create server manager
 	mgr := server.NewManager()

pkg/common/update_merge.go

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package common
+
+// MergeUpdateValues merges the incoming request values into the existing
+// record map (in place) and returns it.
+//
+// Every key present in incoming overwrites the existing value, including empty
+// strings and explicit nulls, so clients can clear a column by sending "" or
+// null. Keys absent from incoming are left untouched.
+//
+// When disallowNulls is true, nil values are skipped and the existing value is
+// kept. Empty strings are still applied.
+func MergeUpdateValues(existing, incoming map[string]interface{}, disallowNulls bool) map[string]interface{} {
+	if existing == nil {
+		existing = make(map[string]interface{}, len(incoming))
+	}
+	for key, newValue := range incoming {
+		if newValue == nil && disallowNulls {
+			continue
+		}
+		existing[key] = newValue
+	}
+	return existing
+}

pkg/common/update_merge_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package common
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestMergeUpdateValues(t *testing.T) {
+	newExisting := func() map[string]interface{} {
+		return map[string]interface{}{"name": "old", "note": "keep", "other": "x"}
+	}
+	incoming := map[string]interface{}{"name": "", "note": nil}
+
+	got := MergeUpdateValues(newExisting(), incoming, false)
+	if got["name"] != "" {
+		t.Errorf("name = %v, want empty string", got["name"])
+	}
+	if v, ok := got["note"]; !ok || v != nil {
+		t.Errorf("note = %v (present=%v), want nil", v, ok)
+	}
+	if got["other"] != "x" {
+		t.Errorf("absent key changed: %v", got["other"])
+	}
+
+	got = MergeUpdateValues(newExisting(), incoming, true)
+	if got["name"] != "" {
+		t.Errorf("disallowNulls: name = %v, want empty string", got["name"])
+	}
+	if got["note"] != "keep" {
+		t.Errorf("disallowNulls: note = %v, want keep", got["note"])
+	}
+}

pkg/dbmanager/README.md

@@ -319,9 +319,10 @@ fmt.Printf("Healthy: %d, Unhealthy: %d\n", stats.HealthyCount, stats.UnhealthyCo
 
 // Per-connection stats
 for name, connStats := range stats.ConnectionStats {
-    fmt.Printf("%s: %d open, %d in use, %d idle\n",
+    fmt.Printf("%s: %d open (max %d, 0 = unlimited), %d in use, %d idle\n",
         name,
         connStats.OpenConnections,
+        connStats.MaxOpenConnections,
         connStats.InUse,
         connStats.Idle)
 }
@@ -340,7 +341,8 @@ The package automatically exports Prometheus metrics:
 
 - `dbmanager_connections_total` - Total configured connections by type
 - `dbmanager_connection_status` - Connection health status (1=healthy, 0=unhealthy)
-- `dbmanager_connection_pool_size` - Connection pool statistics by state
+- `dbmanager_connections_opened_total` - Physical connections ever opened (counter; for a pool wrapped via `existing_db` this is derived from open + closed counts and can undercount)
+- `dbmanager_connection_pool_size` - Connection pool statistics by state (`open`, `idle`, `in_use`, `max`; `max` 0 = unlimited)
 - `dbmanager_connection_wait_count` - Times connections waited for availability
 - `dbmanager_connection_wait_duration_seconds` - Total wait duration
 - `dbmanager_health_check_duration_seconds` - Health check execution time

pkg/dbmanager/config_dsn_test.go

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
+
+	dto "github.com/prometheus/client_model/go"
 )
 
 func TestPostgresDSNEscapesCredentials(t *testing.T) {
@@ -83,6 +85,18 @@ func TestSQLiteMemoryPoolPinned(t *testing.T) {
 	if got := db.Stats().MaxOpenConnections; got != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("MaxOpenConnections = %d, want 1 for :memory:", got)
 	}
+	if got := conn.Stats().MaxOpenConnections; got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("ConnectionStats.MaxOpenConnections = %d, want 1", got)
+	}
+	mgr.(*connectionManager).PublishMetrics()
+	name := conn.Name()
+	var m dto.Metric
+	if err := connectionPoolSize.WithLabelValues(name, string(conn.Stats().Type), "max").Write(&m); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got := m.GetGauge().GetValue(); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("pool_size{state=max} = %v, want 1", got)
+	}
 	if _, err := db.Exec("CREATE TABLE t(a int)"); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}

pkg/dbmanager/connection.go

@@ -55,13 +55,15 @@ type ConnectionStats struct {
 	HealthCheckStatus string
 
 	// SQL connection pool stats
-	OpenConnections   int
-	InUse             int
-	Idle              int
-	WaitCount         int64
-	WaitDuration      time.Duration
-	MaxIdleClosed     int64
-	MaxLifetimeClosed int64
+	OpenConnections    int
+	MaxOpenConnections int
+	TotalOpened        int64 // physical connections ever opened
+	InUse              int
+	Idle               int
+	WaitCount          int64
+	WaitDuration       time.Duration
+	MaxIdleClosed      int64
+	MaxLifetimeClosed  int64
 }
 
 // sqlConnection implements Connection for SQL databases (PostgreSQL, SQLite, MSSQL)
@@ -415,6 +417,8 @@ func (c *sqlConnection) Stats() *ConnectionStats {
 	if c.connected && c.provider != nil {
 		if providerStats := c.provider.Stats(); providerStats != nil {
 			stats.OpenConnections = providerStats.OpenConnections
+			stats.MaxOpenConnections = providerStats.MaxOpenConnections
+			stats.TotalOpened = providerStats.TotalOpened
 			stats.InUse = providerStats.InUse
 			stats.Idle = providerStats.Idle
 			stats.WaitCount = providerStats.WaitCount

pkg/dbmanager/metrics.go

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ var (
 			Name: "dbmanager_connection_pool_size",
 			Help: "Current connection pool size",
 		},
-		[]string{"name", "type", "state"}, // state: open, idle, in_use
+		[]string{"name", "type", "state"}, // state: open, idle, in_use, max
 	)
 
 	// connectionWaitCount tracks how many times connections had to wait for availability
@@ -71,6 +71,15 @@ var (
 		[]string{"name", "type"},
 	)
 
+	// connectionOpened tracks physical connections ever opened
+	connectionOpened = promauto.NewCounterVec(
+		prometheus.CounterOpts{
+			Name: "dbmanager_connections_opened_total",
+			Help: "Total physical connections opened by the pool",
+		},
+		[]string{"name", "type"},
+	)
+
 	// connectionIdleClosed tracks connections closed due to max idle time
 	connectionIdleClosed = promauto.NewCounterVec(
 		prometheus.CounterOpts{
@@ -115,6 +124,7 @@ func (m *connectionManager) PublishMetrics() {
 			connectionPoolSize.WithLabelValues(name, string(connStats.Type), "open").Set(float64(connStats.OpenConnections))
 			connectionPoolSize.WithLabelValues(name, string(connStats.Type), "idle").Set(float64(connStats.Idle))
 			connectionPoolSize.WithLabelValues(name, string(connStats.Type), "in_use").Set(float64(connStats.InUse))
+			connectionPoolSize.WithLabelValues(name, string(connStats.Type), "max").Set(float64(connStats.MaxOpenConnections))
 
 			// sql.DBStats values are cumulative, so add only the growth since
 			// the last publish to keep these true counters.
@@ -122,6 +132,7 @@ func (m *connectionManager) PublishMetrics() {
 			connectionWaitCount.With(labels).Add(float64(connStats.WaitCount - prev.WaitCount))
 			connectionWaitDuration.With(labels).Add((connStats.WaitDuration - prev.WaitDuration).Seconds())
 			connectionLifetimeClosed.With(labels).Add(float64(connStats.MaxLifetimeClosed - prev.MaxLifetimeClosed))
+			connectionOpened.With(labels).Add(float64(connStats.TotalOpened - prev.TotalOpened))
 			connectionIdleClosed.With(labels).Add(float64(connStats.MaxIdleClosed - prev.MaxIdleClosed))
 		}
 	}
@@ -152,7 +163,7 @@ func (p *publishedStats) swap(name string, cur *ConnectionStats) ConnectionStats
 	p.mu.Lock()
 	defer p.mu.Unlock()
 	prev := p.last[name]
-	if cur.WaitCount < prev.WaitCount || cur.MaxIdleClosed < prev.MaxIdleClosed || cur.MaxLifetimeClosed < prev.MaxLifetimeClosed {
+	if cur.WaitCount < prev.WaitCount || cur.MaxIdleClosed < prev.MaxIdleClosed || cur.MaxLifetimeClosed < prev.MaxLifetimeClosed || cur.TotalOpened < prev.TotalOpened {
 		prev = ConnectionStats{}
 	}
 	p.last[name] = *cur

pkg/dbmanager/providers/counting.go

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package providers
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"database/sql/driver"
+	"sync/atomic"
+)
+
+// countingConnector wraps a driver.Connector and counts every physical
+// connection it successfully dials. sql.DBStats has no such field, so this is
+// the only way to report the total number of connections ever opened.
+type countingConnector struct {
+	driver.Connector
+	opened *atomic.Int64
+}
+
+func (c *countingConnector) Connect(ctx context.Context) (driver.Conn, error) {
+	conn, err := c.Connector.Connect(ctx)
+	if err == nil {
+		c.opened.Add(1)
+	}
+	return conn, err
+}
+
+// dsnConnector adapts a plain driver.Driver to driver.Connector.
+type dsnConnector struct {
+	dsn string
+	drv driver.Driver
+}
+
+func (c dsnConnector) Connect(context.Context) (driver.Conn, error) { return c.drv.Open(c.dsn) }
+func (c dsnConnector) Driver() driver.Driver                        { return c.drv }
+
+// openCounted is sql.Open with every dialled connection counted in opened.
+func openCounted(driverName, dsn string, opened *atomic.Int64) (*sql.DB, error) {
+	probe, err := sql.Open(driverName, dsn)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	drv := probe.Driver()
+	probe.Close() //nolint:gosec // G104: probe handle never dialled
+
+	var connector driver.Connector = dsnConnector{dsn: dsn, drv: drv}
+	if dc, ok := drv.(driver.DriverContext); ok {
+		if connector, err = dc.OpenConnector(dsn); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	return sql.OpenDB(&countingConnector{Connector: connector, opened: opened}), nil
+}

pkg/dbmanager/providers/existing_db.go

@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ func (p *ExistingDBProvider) Stats() *ConnectionStats {
 	if p.db != nil {
 		dbStats := p.db.Stats()
 		stats.OpenConnections = dbStats.OpenConnections
+		stats.MaxOpenConnections = dbStats.MaxOpenConnections
+		// The pool was opened outside dbmanager so dials cannot be counted.
+		// Open plus every connection database/sql retired for idle or
+		// lifetime limits is a close lower bound (it misses connections
+		// dropped as broken).
+		stats.TotalOpened = int64(dbStats.OpenConnections) + dbStats.MaxIdleClosed + dbStats.MaxIdleTimeClosed + dbStats.MaxLifetimeClosed
 		stats.InUse = dbStats.InUse
 		stats.Idle = dbStats.Idle
 		stats.WaitCount = dbStats.WaitCount

pkg/dbmanager/providers/existing_db_test.go

@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ package providers
 import (
 	"context"
 	"database/sql"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	_ "github.com/glebarez/sqlite"
 	_ "github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3"
 )
 
@@ -159,6 +161,10 @@ func TestExistingDBProvider_Stats(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected stats.Type to be 'sql', got '%s'", stats.Type)
 	}
 
+	if stats.MaxOpenConnections != 10 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected stats.MaxOpenConnections to be 10, got %d", stats.MaxOpenConnections)
+	}
+
 	if !stats.Connected {
 		t.Error("Expected stats.Connected to be true")
 	}
@@ -192,3 +198,35 @@ func TestExistingDBProvider_Close_NilDB(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected Close to succeed with nil database, got error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestOpenCountedCountsDials(t *testing.T) {
+	var opened atomic.Int64
+	db, err := openCounted("sqlite", ":memory:", &opened)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+	db.SetMaxOpenConns(1)
+
+	if err := db.PingContext(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got := opened.Load(); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("opened = %d after first ping, want 1", got)
+	}
+	// Reusing the pooled connection must not count as a new dial.
+	if err := db.PingContext(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got := opened.Load(); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("opened = %d after reuse, want 1", got)
+	}
+	// Dropping idle connections forces a fresh dial.
+	db.SetMaxIdleConns(0)
+	if err := db.PingContext(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got := opened.Load(); got != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("opened = %d after redial, want 2", got)
+	}
+}

pkg/dbmanager/providers/mssql.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"database/sql"
 	"fmt"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	_ "github.com/microsoft/go-mssqldb" // MSSQL driver
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 type MSSQLProvider struct {
 	db     *sql.DB
 	config ConnectionConfig
+	opened atomic.Int64
 }
 
 // NewMSSQLProvider creates a new MSSQL provider
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ func (p *MSSQLProvider) Connect(ctx context.Context, cfg ConnectionConfig) error
 		}
 
 		// Open database connection
-		db, err = sql.Open("sqlserver", dsn)
+		db, err = openCounted("sqlserver", dsn, &p.opened)
 		if err != nil {
 			lastErr = err
 			if cfg.GetEnableLogging() {
@@ -169,15 +171,17 @@ func (p *MSSQLProvider) Stats() *ConnectionStats {
 	stats := p.db.Stats()
 
 	return &ConnectionStats{
-		Name:              p.config.GetName(),
-		Type:              "mssql",
-		Connected:         true,
-		OpenConnections:   stats.OpenConnections,
-		InUse:             stats.InUse,
-		Idle:              stats.Idle,
-		WaitCount:         stats.WaitCount,
-		WaitDuration:      stats.WaitDuration,
-		MaxIdleClosed:     stats.MaxIdleClosed,
-		MaxLifetimeClosed: stats.MaxLifetimeClosed,
+		Name:               p.config.GetName(),
+		Type:               "mssql",
+		Connected:          true,
+		OpenConnections:    stats.OpenConnections,
+		MaxOpenConnections: stats.MaxOpenConnections,
+		TotalOpened:        p.opened.Load(),
+		InUse:              stats.InUse,
+		Idle:               stats.Idle,
+		WaitCount:          stats.WaitCount,
+		WaitDuration:       stats.WaitDuration,
+		MaxIdleClosed:      stats.MaxIdleClosed,
+		MaxLifetimeClosed:  stats.MaxLifetimeClosed,
 	}
 }

pkg/dbmanager/providers/postgres.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	"go.mongodb.org/mongo-driver/mongo"
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ type PostgresProvider struct {
 	config    ConnectionConfig
 	listener  *PostgresListener
 	mu        sync.Mutex
+	opened    atomic.Int64
 }
 
 // NewPostgresProvider creates a new PostgreSQL provider
@@ -38,7 +40,7 @@ func (p *PostgresProvider) Connect(ctx context.Context, cfg ConnectionConfig) er
 	// The connector and *sql.DB are created once; the pool is never closed to
 	// recover from errors (see Refresh).
 	connector := newPGConnector(connCfg)
-	db := sql.OpenDB(connector)
+	db := sql.OpenDB(&countingConnector{Connector: connector, opened: &p.opened})
 
 	// Connect with retry logic
 	var lastErr error
@@ -201,16 +203,18 @@ func (p *PostgresProvider) Stats() *ConnectionStats {
 	stats := p.db.Stats()
 
 	return &ConnectionStats{
-		Name:              p.config.GetName(),
-		Type:              "postgres",
-		Connected:         true,
-		OpenConnections:   stats.OpenConnections,
-		InUse:             stats.InUse,
-		Idle:              stats.Idle,
-		WaitCount:         stats.WaitCount,
-		WaitDuration:      stats.WaitDuration,
-		MaxIdleClosed:     stats.MaxIdleClosed,
-		MaxLifetimeClosed: stats.MaxLifetimeClosed,
+		Name:               p.config.GetName(),
+		Type:               "postgres",
+		Connected:          true,
+		OpenConnections:    stats.OpenConnections,
+		MaxOpenConnections: stats.MaxOpenConnections,
+		TotalOpened:        p.opened.Load(),
+		InUse:              stats.InUse,
+		Idle:               stats.Idle,
+		WaitCount:          stats.WaitCount,
+		WaitDuration:       stats.WaitDuration,
+		MaxIdleClosed:      stats.MaxIdleClosed,
+		MaxLifetimeClosed:  stats.MaxLifetimeClosed,
 	}
 }
 

pkg/dbmanager/providers/provider.go

@@ -27,13 +27,15 @@ type ConnectionStats struct {
 	HealthCheckStatus string
 
 	// SQL connection pool stats
-	OpenConnections   int
-	InUse             int
-	Idle              int
-	WaitCount         int64
-	WaitDuration      time.Duration
-	MaxIdleClosed     int64
-	MaxLifetimeClosed int64
+	OpenConnections    int
+	MaxOpenConnections int
+	TotalOpened        int64 // physical connections ever dialled (0 when unknown)
+	InUse              int
+	Idle               int
+	WaitCount          int64
+	WaitDuration       time.Duration
+	MaxIdleClosed      int64
+	MaxLifetimeClosed  int64
 }
 
 // ConnectionConfig is a minimal interface for configuration

pkg/dbmanager/providers/sqlite.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	_ "github.com/glebarez/sqlite" // Pure Go SQLite driver
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ type SQLiteProvider struct {
 	db     *sql.DB
 	dbMu   sync.RWMutex
 	config ConnectionConfig
+	opened atomic.Int64
 }
 
 // NewSQLiteProvider creates a new SQLite provider
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ func (p *SQLiteProvider) Connect(ctx context.Context, cfg ConnectionConfig) erro
 	}
 
 	// Open database connection
-	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dsn)
+	db, err := openCounted("sqlite", dsn, &p.opened)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open SQLite connection: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -178,15 +180,17 @@ func (p *SQLiteProvider) Stats() *ConnectionStats {
 	stats := p.db.Stats()
 
 	return &ConnectionStats{
-		Name:              p.config.GetName(),
-		Type:              "sqlite",
-		Connected:         true,
-		OpenConnections:   stats.OpenConnections,
-		InUse:             stats.InUse,
-		Idle:              stats.Idle,
-		WaitCount:         stats.WaitCount,
-		WaitDuration:      stats.WaitDuration,
-		MaxIdleClosed:     stats.MaxIdleClosed,
-		MaxLifetimeClosed: stats.MaxLifetimeClosed,
+		Name:               p.config.GetName(),
+		Type:               "sqlite",
+		Connected:          true,
+		OpenConnections:    stats.OpenConnections,
+		MaxOpenConnections: stats.MaxOpenConnections,
+		TotalOpened:        p.opened.Load(),
+		InUse:              stats.InUse,
+		Idle:               stats.Idle,
+		WaitCount:          stats.WaitCount,
+		WaitDuration:       stats.WaitDuration,
+		MaxIdleClosed:      stats.MaxIdleClosed,
+		MaxLifetimeClosed:  stats.MaxLifetimeClosed,
 	}
 }

pkg/middleware/README.md

@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ HTTP middleware utilities for security and performance.
 ## Table of Contents
 
 1. [Rate Limiting](#rate-limiting)
-2. [Request Size Limits](#request-size-limits)
-3. [Input Sanitization](#input-sanitization)
+2. [Client Request Queue](#client-request-queue)
+3. [Request Size Limits](#request-size-limits)
+4. [Input Sanitization](#input-sanitization)
 
 ---
 
@@ -381,6 +382,111 @@ func healthHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 ---
 
+## Client Request Queue
+
+`ClientQueue` smooths bursts (for example a page load that fires ~15 requests at once) by
+limiting how many requests each client runs concurrently and queueing the rest first-in-first-out.
+Unlike the rate limiter it never rejects a request that can be served shortly.
+
+```go
+q := middleware.NewClientQueue(middleware.ClientQueueConfig{
+    MaxConcurrent: 4,                // running at once, per client
+    MaxQueue:      50,               // waiting, per client; beyond this -> 429
+    MaxWait:       30 * time.Second, // waiting too long -> 503 + Retry-After
+})
+defer q.Close()
+
+router.Use(q.Middleware) // gorilla/mux; or wrap any http.Handler
+```
+
+### Adding it to restheadspec / resolvespec
+
+Both packages' `SetupMuxRoutes` and `SetupBunRouterRoutes` take one middleware and apply it to every
+route, so pass the queue there. Use `Chain` to combine it with auth (first is outermost, so requests
+are authenticated before they can take a queue slot):
+
+```go
+q := middleware.NewClientQueue(middleware.ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 4})
+defer q.Close()
+
+mw := middleware.Chain(authMiddleware, q.Middleware) // authMiddleware may be nil
+
+restheadspec.SetupMuxRoutes(muxRouter, headHandler, mw)
+resolvespec.SetupMuxRoutes(muxRouter, resolveHandler, mw)
+// or SetupBunRouterRoutes(router, handler, mw)
+```
+
+Share one `ClientQueue` across packages to give a client a single limit over all of them.
+
+### Client identification
+
+The first of these that is present is used, in order:
+
+1. `X-Client-Id` header
+2. `Authorization` header
+3. the built-in server session (`security.GetSessionID` from the request context, else the session cookie)
+4. the client IP
+
+Nothing is required from the client: without an id it falls back to the session, then to the IP.
+Secrets are hashed and never stored. Ids longer than 128 characters are ignored.
+
+The session is only in the request context if the `security` auth middleware has run first, so put
+auth before the queue with `Chain` (below). Without it the cookie is still used.
+
+To get one queue per browser tab (rather than per session), have the client send an id generated once
+per tab; the server cannot read `sessionStorage` itself:
+
+```js
+const id = sessionStorage.clientId ??= crypto.randomUUID();
+fetch(url, { headers: { "X-Client-Id": id } });
+```
+
+### Metrics
+
+Registered on the default Prometheus registry (the same one `pkg/metrics` and `dbmanager` use), with
+no per-client labels so cardinality stays bounded.
+
+| Metric | Type | Meaning |
+|---|---|---|
+| `clientqueue_requests_total{result}` | counter | `immediate`, `queued`, `rejected_full`, `timeout`, `canceled` |
+| `clientqueue_enqueued_total` | counter | requests ever placed in a wait queue, whatever happened next (ran, timed out, cancelled) |
+| `clientqueue_wait_seconds` | histogram | wait for a slot; 0 for requests that ran immediately |
+| `clientqueue_wait_max_seconds` | gauge | longest wait since process start |
+| `clientqueue_burst_size` | histogram | peak outstanding requests per client busy period |
+| `clientqueue_burst_max` | gauge | largest burst since process start |
+| `clientqueue_active` / `clientqueue_queue_depth` | gauge | running / waiting now |
+| `clientqueue_waiting_clients` | gauge | clients with at least one request waiting (`queue_depth` counts requests, this counts clients) |
+| `clientqueue_clients` | gauge | clients currently tracked |
+
+A **burst** is one client's busy period: the peak number of its requests running plus waiting between
+going from idle to busy and back to idle. A page load firing 15 requests at once is a burst of 15.
+
+```promql
+# average burst size
+rate(clientqueue_burst_size_sum[5m]) / rate(clientqueue_burst_size_count[5m])
+# bursts larger than the concurrency limit (need queueing)
+1 - (sum(rate(clientqueue_burst_size_bucket{le="10"}[5m])) / sum(rate(clientqueue_burst_size_count[5m])))
+# average and p95 wait
+rate(clientqueue_wait_seconds_sum[5m]) / rate(clientqueue_wait_seconds_count[5m])
+histogram_quantile(0.95, sum(rate(clientqueue_wait_seconds_bucket[5m])) by (le))
+# share of requests that had to queue
+sum(rate(clientqueue_requests_total{result="queued"}[5m])) / sum(rate(clientqueue_requests_total[5m]))
+```
+
+Use these to pick `MaxConcurrent`: if the p95 burst is well above it and waits are short, it is doing its
+job; if waits grow, the limit is too low or the database is the bottleneck. The `_max` gauges reset on
+restart; use the histograms for anything over time. A client that never goes idle produces one long
+busy period, so its burst is only recorded when it finally drains.
+
+### Behaviour
+
+- Queued requests are dropped if the client disconnects, so abandoned requests never run.
+- CORS preflights (`OPTIONS`) and connection upgrades (websockets) bypass the queue.
+- Idle clients are forgotten after `IdleTimeout` (default 5m).
+- The client id is client-supplied, so a hostile client can rotate ids to get more slots. It smooths
+  well-behaved clients; it is not an abuse control. Combine it with `RateLimiter` for that.
+- Queue time counts against your own request timeouts; keep `MaxWait` below them.
+
 ## Request Size Limits
 
 Protect against oversized request bodies with configurable size limits.

pkg/middleware/clientqueue.go

@@ -0,0 +1,405 @@
+package middleware
+
+import (
+	"container/list"
+	"context"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus/promauto"
+
+	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/security"
+)
+
+// DefaultClientIDHeader is the header a client (one per browser tab) sends to
+// identify itself to the ClientQueue.
+const DefaultClientIDHeader = "X-Client-Id"
+
+const maxClientIDLen = 128
+
+// Client queue metrics. They are aggregated over all clients (no per-client
+// labels, to keep cardinality bounded) and over all ClientQueue instances.
+//
+// A burst is one client's busy period: the peak number of its requests
+// outstanding (running plus waiting) between the moment it goes from idle to
+// busy and the moment it is idle again. A page load firing 15 requests at
+// once is a burst of 15. Average burst is burst_size_sum / burst_size_count;
+// the highest burst seen is clientqueue_burst_max.
+var (
+	queueRequests = promauto.NewCounterVec(prometheus.CounterOpts{
+		Name: "clientqueue_requests_total",
+		Help: "Requests by outcome: immediate (ran without waiting), queued (waited, then ran), rejected_full, timeout, canceled",
+	}, []string{"result"})
+
+	queueWait = promauto.NewHistogram(prometheus.HistogramOpts{
+		Name:    "clientqueue_wait_seconds",
+		Help:    "Time admitted requests spent waiting for a slot (0 for immediate ones)",
+		Buckets: []float64{0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 30},
+	})
+
+	queueBurst = promauto.NewHistogram(prometheus.HistogramOpts{
+		Name:    "clientqueue_burst_size",
+		Help:    "Peak outstanding requests (running + waiting) per client busy period",
+		Buckets: []float64{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 100},
+	})
+
+	queueBurstMax = promauto.NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+		Name: "clientqueue_burst_max",
+		Help: "Largest burst seen since the process started",
+	})
+
+	queueWaitMax = promauto.NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+		Name: "clientqueue_wait_max_seconds",
+		Help: "Longest queue wait seen since the process started",
+	})
+
+	queueActive = promauto.NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+		Name: "clientqueue_active",
+		Help: "Requests currently running through the queue",
+	})
+
+	queueDepth = promauto.NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+		Name: "clientqueue_queue_depth",
+		Help: "Requests currently waiting for a slot",
+	})
+
+	queueEnqueued = promauto.NewCounter(prometheus.CounterOpts{
+		Name: "clientqueue_enqueued_total",
+		Help: "Requests ever placed in a wait queue, whatever their outcome (ran, timed out or cancelled)",
+	})
+
+	queueWaitingClients = promauto.NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+		Name: "clientqueue_waiting_clients",
+		Help: "Clients currently with at least one request waiting for a slot",
+	})
+
+	queueClients = promauto.NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+		Name: "clientqueue_clients",
+		Help: "Clients currently tracked by the queue",
+	})
+
+	maxMu      sync.Mutex
+	maxBurst   float64
+	maxWaitSec float64
+)
+
+// observeMax raises a high-water gauge when v exceeds the recorded maximum.
+func observeMax(g prometheus.Gauge, cur *float64, v float64) {
+	maxMu.Lock()
+	if v > *cur {
+		*cur = v
+		g.Set(v)
+	}
+	maxMu.Unlock()
+}
+
+var (
+	errQueueFull = errors.New("client queue full")
+	errQueueWait = errors.New("client queue wait exceeded")
+)
+
+// ClientQueueConfig configures a ClientQueue. Zero values use the defaults.
+type ClientQueueConfig struct {
+	// MaxConcurrent is how many requests one client may have running at once.
+	// Default 4.
+	MaxConcurrent int
+	// MaxQueue is how many further requests one client may have waiting.
+	// Requests beyond it are rejected with 429. Default 50.
+	MaxQueue int
+	// MaxWait is the longest a request waits for a slot before it is rejected
+	// with 503. Default 30s.
+	MaxWait time.Duration
+	// IdleTimeout is how long a client with no requests is remembered.
+	// Default 5m.
+	IdleTimeout time.Duration
+	// HeaderName is the client id header. Default X-Client-Id.
+	HeaderName string
+}
+
+func (c *ClientQueueConfig) applyDefaults() {
+	if c.MaxConcurrent <= 0 {
+		c.MaxConcurrent = 4
+	}
+	if c.MaxQueue <= 0 {
+		c.MaxQueue = 50
+	}
+	if c.MaxWait <= 0 {
+		c.MaxWait = 30 * time.Second
+	}
+	if c.IdleTimeout <= 0 {
+		c.IdleTimeout = 5 * time.Minute
+	}
+	if c.HeaderName == "" {
+		c.HeaderName = DefaultClientIDHeader
+	}
+}
+
+// ClientQueue limits how many requests each client runs concurrently and
+// queues the rest first-in-first-out, smoothing bursts such as a page load
+// that fires many requests at once. A client is identified by, in order:
+// the client id header, the Authorization header (session), then the IP.
+type ClientQueue struct {
+	cfg     ClientQueueConfig
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	clients map[string]*queueClient
+	stop    chan struct{}
+	once    sync.Once
+}
+
+type queueClient struct {
+	active      int
+	waiters     list.List // of *queueWaiter
+	lastUsed    time.Time
+	outstanding int // running + waiting
+	peak        int // highest outstanding in the current busy period
+}
+
+// enter records a request entering the client's outstanding set.
+func (c *queueClient) enter() {
+	c.outstanding++
+	if c.outstanding > c.peak {
+		c.peak = c.outstanding
+	}
+}
+
+// leave records a request leaving it, closing the burst when the client goes idle.
+func (c *queueClient) leave() {
+	c.outstanding--
+	if c.outstanding == 0 {
+		queueBurst.Observe(float64(c.peak))
+		observeMax(queueBurstMax, &maxBurst, float64(c.peak))
+		c.peak = 0
+	}
+}
+
+type queueWaiter struct {
+	ready   chan struct{}
+	granted bool
+	elem    *list.Element
+}
+
+// NewClientQueue creates a ClientQueue and starts its idle-client cleanup.
+// Call Close to stop it.
+func NewClientQueue(cfg ClientQueueConfig) *ClientQueue {
+	cfg.applyDefaults()
+	q := &ClientQueue{
+		cfg:     cfg,
+		clients: make(map[string]*queueClient),
+		stop:    make(chan struct{}),
+	}
+	go q.cleanupRoutine()
+	return q
+}
+
+// Close stops the cleanup goroutine. Requests in flight are unaffected.
+func (q *ClientQueue) Close() { q.once.Do(func() { close(q.stop) }) }
+
+func (q *ClientQueue) cleanupRoutine() {
+	interval := q.cfg.IdleTimeout / 2
+	if interval < time.Second {
+		interval = time.Second
+	}
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(interval)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-q.stop:
+			return
+		case now := <-ticker.C:
+			q.evictIdle(now)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (q *ClientQueue) evictIdle(now time.Time) {
+	q.mu.Lock()
+	defer q.mu.Unlock()
+	for key, c := range q.clients {
+		if c.active == 0 && c.waiters.Len() == 0 && now.Sub(c.lastUsed) >= q.cfg.IdleTimeout {
+			delete(q.clients, key)
+			queueClients.Dec()
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// clientKey identifies the caller by the first of these that is present:
+// the client id header, the Authorization header, the built-in server session
+// (from the request context once security auth has run, else the session
+// cookie), then the IP. Secrets are hashed so they are never held in memory
+// or logs. The session is only in the context if the auth middleware runs
+// before this one (see Chain).
+func (q *ClientQueue) clientKey(r *http.Request) string {
+	id := strings.TrimSpace(r.Header.Get(q.cfg.HeaderName))
+	if id != "" && len(id) <= maxClientIDLen && !strings.ContainsAny(id, "\r\n\x00") {
+		return "cid:" + id
+	}
+	if a := r.Header.Get("Authorization"); a != "" {
+		return "auth:" + hashKey(a)
+	}
+	if sid, ok := security.GetSessionID(r.Context()); ok && sid != "" {
+		return "session:" + hashKey(sid)
+	}
+	if c := security.GetSessionCookie(r); c != "" {
+		return "session:" + hashKey(c)
+	}
+	return "ip:" + getClientIP(r)
+}
+
+func hashKey(v string) string {
+	sum := sha256.Sum256([]byte(v))
+	return hex.EncodeToString(sum[:16])
+}
+
+// acquire blocks until key has a free slot, the queue is full, ctx ends, or
+// MaxWait passes. On success the caller must call release(key).
+func (q *ClientQueue) acquire(ctx context.Context, key string) error {
+	start := time.Now()
+	q.mu.Lock()
+	c := q.clients[key]
+	if c == nil {
+		c = &queueClient{}
+		q.clients[key] = c
+		queueClients.Inc()
+	}
+	c.lastUsed = start
+	if c.active < q.cfg.MaxConcurrent && c.waiters.Len() == 0 {
+		c.active++
+		c.enter()
+		q.mu.Unlock()
+		queueActive.Inc()
+		queueWait.Observe(0)
+		queueRequests.WithLabelValues("immediate").Inc()
+		return nil
+	}
+	if c.waiters.Len() >= q.cfg.MaxQueue {
+		q.mu.Unlock()
+		queueRequests.WithLabelValues("rejected_full").Inc()
+		return errQueueFull
+	}
+	w := &queueWaiter{ready: make(chan struct{})}
+	w.elem = c.waiters.PushBack(w)
+	if c.waiters.Len() == 1 {
+		queueWaitingClients.Inc()
+	}
+	c.enter()
+	q.mu.Unlock()
+	queueDepth.Inc()
+	queueEnqueued.Inc()
+
+	timer := time.NewTimer(q.cfg.MaxWait)
+	defer timer.Stop()
+
+	var err error
+	select {
+	case <-w.ready:
+		waited := time.Since(start).Seconds()
+		queueWait.Observe(waited)
+		observeMax(queueWaitMax, &maxWaitSec, waited)
+		queueRequests.WithLabelValues("queued").Inc()
+		return nil
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		err = ctx.Err()
+	case <-timer.C:
+		err = errQueueWait
+	}
+
+	q.mu.Lock()
+	if w.granted {
+		// A slot was handed over as we gave up; pass it on.
+		q.releaseLocked(key)
+	} else {
+		c.waiters.Remove(w.elem)
+		if c.waiters.Len() == 0 {
+			queueWaitingClients.Dec()
+		}
+		c.leave()
+		queueDepth.Dec()
+	}
+	q.mu.Unlock()
+	if errors.Is(err, errQueueWait) {
+		queueRequests.WithLabelValues("timeout").Inc()
+	} else {
+		queueRequests.WithLabelValues("canceled").Inc()
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+func (q *ClientQueue) release(key string) {
+	q.mu.Lock()
+	q.releaseLocked(key)
+	q.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+// releaseLocked hands the slot to the longest-waiting request, or frees it.
+func (q *ClientQueue) releaseLocked(key string) {
+	c := q.clients[key]
+	if c == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	c.lastUsed = time.Now()
+	c.leave()
+	queueActive.Dec()
+	if front := c.waiters.Front(); front != nil {
+		w := c.waiters.Remove(front).(*queueWaiter)
+		if c.waiters.Len() == 0 {
+			queueWaitingClients.Dec()
+		}
+		w.granted = true
+		queueDepth.Dec()
+		queueActive.Inc()
+		close(w.ready)
+		return
+	}
+	c.active--
+}
+
+// Middleware queues requests per client. CORS preflights and connection
+// upgrades (websockets) bypass the queue, since they are short or long-lived
+// respectively and should not hold or wait for a slot.
+func (q *ClientQueue) Middleware(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if r.Method == http.MethodOptions || r.Header.Get("Upgrade") != "" {
+			next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+			return
+		}
+
+		key := q.clientKey(r)
+		if err := q.acquire(r.Context(), key); err != nil {
+			switch {
+			case errors.Is(err, errQueueFull):
+				w.Header().Set("Retry-After", "1")
+				http.Error(w, `{"error":"queue_full","message":"Too many queued requests"}`, http.StatusTooManyRequests)
+			case errors.Is(err, errQueueWait):
+				w.Header().Set("Retry-After", strconv.Itoa(int(q.cfg.MaxWait.Seconds())))
+				http.Error(w, `{"error":"queue_timeout","message":"Timed out waiting in the request queue"}`, http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
+			}
+			// Otherwise the client went away; there is no one to answer.
+			return
+		}
+		defer q.release(key)
+
+		next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+	})
+}
+
+// Chain composes middlewares into one, for the single middleware slot of
+// restheadspec.SetupMuxRoutes and friends. The first argument is the
+// outermost: Chain(auth, q.Middleware) authenticates before a request may
+// occupy a queue slot, so unauthenticated traffic cannot fill queues.
+func Chain(mws ...func(http.Handler) http.Handler) func(http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return func(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+		for i := len(mws) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+			if mws[i] != nil {
+				next = mws[i](next)
+			}
+		}
+		return next
+	}
+}

pkg/middleware/clientqueue_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,434 @@
+package middleware
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/security"
+	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	dto "github.com/prometheus/client_model/go"
+)
+
+func newTestQueue(t *testing.T, cfg ClientQueueConfig) *ClientQueue {
+	q := NewClientQueue(cfg)
+	t.Cleanup(q.Close)
+	return q
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueKey(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{})
+	mk := func(id, auth string) *http.Request {
+		r := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/", nil)
+		r.RemoteAddr = "10.0.0.1:1234"
+		if id != "" {
+			r.Header.Set("X-Client-Id", id)
+		}
+		if auth != "" {
+			r.Header.Set("Authorization", auth)
+		}
+		return r
+	}
+	withCtxSession := func(r *http.Request, sid string) *http.Request {
+		return r.WithContext(context.WithValue(r.Context(), security.SessionIDKey, sid))
+	}
+
+	// 1. client id wins over everything else.
+	r := withCtxSession(mk("tab1", "Bearer a"), "sess")
+	r.AddCookie(&http.Cookie{Name: "session_token", Value: "cookie"})
+	if got := q.clientKey(r); got != "cid:tab1" {
+		t.Errorf("id: %q", got)
+	}
+	// 2. Authorization next, hashed.
+	got := q.clientKey(withCtxSession(mk("", "Bearer secret"), "sess"))
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(got, "auth:") || strings.Contains(got, "secret") {
+		t.Errorf("auth must be hashed: %q", got)
+	}
+	// 3. built-in session from the context, then the cookie.
+	got = q.clientKey(withCtxSession(mk("", ""), "sess"))
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(got, "session:") || strings.Contains(strings.TrimPrefix(got, "session:"), "sess") {
+		t.Errorf("context session: %q", got)
+	}
+	rc := mk("", "")
+	rc.AddCookie(&http.Cookie{Name: "session_token", Value: "cookie"})
+	if got := q.clientKey(rc); !strings.HasPrefix(got, "session:") {
+		t.Errorf("cookie session: %q", got)
+	}
+	// 4. IP last.
+	if got := q.clientKey(mk("", "")); got != "ip:10.0.0.1" {
+		t.Errorf("ip: %q", got)
+	}
+	// Oversized ids are ignored and fall through.
+	if got := q.clientKey(mk(strings.Repeat("x", 200), "")); got != "ip:10.0.0.1" {
+		t.Errorf("oversized id should be ignored: %q", got)
+	}
+	// Tabs with different ids get separate queues; same id shares one.
+	if q.clientKey(mk("tab1", "Bearer a")) == q.clientKey(mk("tab2", "Bearer a")) {
+		t.Error("different ids must not share a queue")
+	}
+	if q.clientKey(mk("", "Bearer a")) != q.clientKey(mk("", "Bearer a")) {
+		t.Error("same session without id must share a queue")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueLimitsConcurrencyPerClient(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 3})
+	var cur, peak atomic.Int32
+	h := q.Middleware(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		n := cur.Add(1)
+		for {
+			p := peak.Load()
+			if n <= p || peak.CompareAndSwap(p, n) {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		time.Sleep(20 * time.Millisecond)
+		cur.Add(-1)
+	}))
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for i := 0; i < 15; i++ {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			r := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/", nil)
+			r.Header.Set("X-Client-Id", "tab1")
+			w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+			h.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+			if w.Code != http.StatusOK {
+				t.Errorf("code %d", w.Code)
+			}
+		}()
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+	if p := peak.Load(); p > 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("peak concurrency %d, want <= 3", p)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueClientsAreIndependent(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 1})
+	block := make(chan struct{})
+	started := make(chan struct{}, 2)
+	h := q.Middleware(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		started <- struct{}{}
+		<-block
+	}))
+	for _, id := range []string{"a", "b"} {
+		go func(id string) {
+			r := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/", nil)
+			r.Header.Set("X-Client-Id", id)
+			h.ServeHTTP(httptest.NewRecorder(), r)
+		}(id)
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
+		select {
+		case <-started:
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("a second client was blocked by the first")
+		}
+	}
+	close(block)
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueFullAndTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 1, MaxQueue: 1, MaxWait: 50 * time.Millisecond})
+	block := make(chan struct{})
+	started := make(chan struct{}, 1)
+	h := q.Middleware(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		started <- struct{}{}
+		<-block
+	}))
+	do := func() *httptest.ResponseRecorder {
+		r := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/", nil)
+		r.Header.Set("X-Client-Id", "tab1")
+		w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		h.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+		return w
+	}
+
+	go do() // takes the only slot
+	<-started
+
+	queued := make(chan *httptest.ResponseRecorder, 1)
+	go func() { queued <- do() }()
+	time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond) // let it enter the queue
+
+	if w := do(); w.Code != http.StatusTooManyRequests {
+		t.Errorf("queue full: got %d, want 429", w.Code)
+	}
+	if w := <-queued; w.Code != http.StatusServiceUnavailable || w.Header().Get("Retry-After") == "" {
+		t.Errorf("wait timeout: got %d, want 503 with Retry-After", w.Code)
+	}
+	close(block)
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueCancelledWaiterFreesQueue(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 1})
+	if err := q.acquire(t.Context(), "k"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	cctx, ccancel := context.WithCancel(t.Context())
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() { done <- q.acquire(cctx, "k") }()
+	time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	ccancel()
+	if err := <-done; err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected cancellation error")
+	}
+	q.release("k")
+
+	q.mu.Lock()
+	c := q.clients["k"]
+	active, waiting := c.active, c.waiters.Len()
+	q.mu.Unlock()
+	if active != 0 || waiting != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("leaked state: active=%d waiting=%d", active, waiting)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueBypassesPreflightAndEvictsIdle(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 1, IdleTimeout: time.Minute})
+	block := make(chan struct{})
+	started := make(chan struct{}, 1)
+	h := q.Middleware(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if r.Method == http.MethodGet {
+			started <- struct{}{}
+			<-block
+		}
+	}))
+	go func() {
+		r := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/", nil)
+		r.Header.Set("X-Client-Id", "tab1")
+		h.ServeHTTP(httptest.NewRecorder(), r)
+	}()
+	<-started
+
+	r := httptest.NewRequest("OPTIONS", "/", nil)
+	r.Header.Set("X-Client-Id", "tab1")
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() { h.ServeHTTP(httptest.NewRecorder(), r); close(done) }()
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("preflight was queued")
+	}
+	close(block)
+	time.Sleep(20 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	q.evictIdle(time.Now().Add(2 * time.Minute))
+	q.mu.Lock()
+	n := len(q.clients)
+	q.mu.Unlock()
+	if n != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("idle client not evicted: %d tracked", n)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestChainOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	var order []string
+	tag := func(name string) func(http.Handler) http.Handler {
+		return func(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+			return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+				order = append(order, name)
+				next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	h := Chain(tag("auth"), nil, tag("queue"))(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		order = append(order, "handler")
+	}))
+	h.ServeHTTP(httptest.NewRecorder(), httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/", nil))
+	if got := len(order); got != 3 || order[0] != "auth" || order[1] != "queue" || order[2] != "handler" {
+		t.Fatalf("order = %v", order)
+	}
+}
+
+func gaugeVal(t *testing.T, m prometheus.Metric) float64 {
+	t.Helper()
+	var d dto.Metric
+	if err := m.Write(&d); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	switch {
+	case d.Gauge != nil:
+		return d.Gauge.GetValue()
+	case d.Counter != nil:
+		return d.Counter.GetValue()
+	}
+	t.Fatal("not a gauge or counter")
+	return 0
+}
+
+func histVal(t *testing.T, h prometheus.Histogram) (count uint64, sum float64) {
+	t.Helper()
+	var d dto.Metric
+	if err := h.Write(&d); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return d.Histogram.GetSampleCount(), d.Histogram.GetSampleSum()
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueMetrics(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 2})
+	imm0 := gaugeVal(t, queueRequests.WithLabelValues("immediate"))
+	que0 := gaugeVal(t, queueRequests.WithLabelValues("queued"))
+	enq0 := gaugeVal(t, queueEnqueued)
+	bc0, bs0 := histVal(t, queueBurst)
+	wc0, _ := histVal(t, queueWait)
+
+	block := make(chan struct{})
+	h := q.Middleware(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) { <-block }))
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			r := httptest.NewRequest("GET", "/", nil)
+			r.Header.Set("X-Client-Id", "metrics-tab")
+			h.ServeHTTP(httptest.NewRecorder(), r)
+		}()
+	}
+	// Wait for 2 running and 3 queued.
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		q.mu.Lock()
+		c := q.clients["cid:metrics-tab"]
+		ok := c != nil && c.active == 2 && c.waiters.Len() == 3
+		q.mu.Unlock()
+		if ok {
+			break
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatal("requests did not reach 2 running + 3 queued")
+		}
+		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	if got := gaugeVal(t, queueDepth); got < 3 {
+		t.Errorf("queue depth = %v, want >= 3", got)
+	}
+	close(block)
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	if got := gaugeVal(t, queueRequests.WithLabelValues("immediate")) - imm0; got != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("immediate = %v, want 2", got)
+	}
+	if got := gaugeVal(t, queueEnqueued) - enq0; got != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("enqueued = %v, want 3", got)
+	}
+	if got := gaugeVal(t, queueRequests.WithLabelValues("queued")) - que0; got != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("queued = %v, want 3", got)
+	}
+	bc, bs := histVal(t, queueBurst)
+	if bc-bc0 != 1 || bs-bs0 != 5 {
+		t.Errorf("burst observations = %d (sum %v), want 1 burst of size 5", bc-bc0, bs-bs0)
+	}
+	if wc, _ := histVal(t, queueWait); wc-wc0 != 5 {
+		t.Errorf("wait observations = %d, want 5", wc-wc0)
+	}
+	if got := gaugeVal(t, queueBurstMax); got < 5 {
+		t.Errorf("burst max = %v, want >= 5", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueWaitingClientsGauge(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 1, MaxWait: 100 * time.Millisecond})
+	base := gaugeVal(t, queueWaitingClients)
+	waiting := func() float64 { return gaugeVal(t, queueWaitingClients) - base }
+	waitFor := func(want float64) {
+		t.Helper()
+		deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+		for waiting() != want {
+			if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+				t.Fatalf("waiting clients = %v, want %v", waiting(), want)
+			}
+			time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Two clients each hold their only slot.
+	for _, k := range []string{"a", "b"} {
+		if err := q.acquire(t.Context(), k); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if waiting() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("waiting = %v with nobody queued", waiting())
+	}
+
+	// Two waiters for "a" count as one waiting client, not two.
+	bg := func(ctx context.Context, k string) chan error {
+		ch := make(chan error, 1)
+		go func() { ch <- q.acquire(ctx, k) }()
+		return ch
+	}
+	a1 := bg(t.Context(), "a")
+	waitFor(1)
+	a2 := bg(t.Context(), "a")
+	time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	waitFor(1)
+
+	// A waiter for "b" adds a second waiting client, and cancelling it drops it.
+	cctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(t.Context())
+	b1 := bg(cctx, "b")
+	waitFor(2)
+	cancel()
+	if err := <-b1; err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected cancellation")
+	}
+	waitFor(1)
+
+	// Draining "a": the first release hands over to a1 (one still waits),
+	// the second hands over to a2 and "a" stops waiting.
+	q.release("a")
+	if err := <-a1; err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	waitFor(1)
+	q.release("a")
+	if err := <-a2; err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	waitFor(0)
+	q.release("a")
+	q.release("a")
+
+	// Timeout: "b" still holds its slot, so a new waiter times out.
+	b2 := bg(t.Context(), "b")
+	waitFor(1)
+	if err := <-b2; !errors.Is(err, errQueueWait) {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want timeout", err)
+	}
+	waitFor(0)
+	q.release("b")
+}
+
+func TestClientQueueEnqueuedCountsAllOutcomes(t *testing.T) {
+	q := newTestQueue(t, ClientQueueConfig{MaxConcurrent: 1, MaxQueue: 1, MaxWait: 50 * time.Millisecond})
+	base := gaugeVal(t, queueEnqueued)
+	if err := q.acquire(t.Context(), "k"); err != nil { // immediate: not enqueued
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := q.acquire(t.Context(), "k"); !errors.Is(err, errQueueWait) { // enqueued, times out
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want timeout", err)
+	}
+	cctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(t.Context())
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() { done <- q.acquire(cctx, "k") }() // enqueued, cancelled
+	time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	if err := q.acquire(t.Context(), "k"); !errors.Is(err, errQueueFull) { // rejected: not enqueued
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want queue full", err)
+	}
+	cancel()
+	<-done
+	q.release("k")
+	if got := gaugeVal(t, queueEnqueued) - base; got != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("enqueued = %v, want 2 (timeout + cancel; not immediate or rejected)", got)
+	}
+}

pkg/mqttspec/handler.go

@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ type Handler struct {
 	// Started flag
 	started bool
 	mu      sync.RWMutex
+
+	// disallowNulls skips null values in update payloads instead of applying them
+	disallowNulls bool
 }
 
 // NewHandler creates a new MQTT handler
@@ -812,6 +815,14 @@ func (h *Handler) readMultiple(hookCtx *HookContext) (data interface{}, metadata
 }
 
 // create creates a new record
+// SetDisallowNulls controls whether explicit null values in update payloads are
+// ignored. By default a key present in the payload overwrites the stored value,
+// including "" and null. When true, null values are skipped and the existing
+// value is kept ("" still overwrites).
+func (h *Handler) SetDisallowNulls(disallow bool) {
+	h.disallowNulls = disallow
+}
+
 func (h *Handler) create(hookCtx *HookContext) (interface{}, error) {
 	// Marshal and unmarshal data into model
 	dataBytes, err := json.Marshal(hookCtx.Data)
@@ -840,25 +851,33 @@ func (h *Handler) create(hookCtx *HookContext) (interface{}, error) {
 
 // update updates an existing record
 func (h *Handler) update(hookCtx *HookContext) (interface{}, error) {
-	// Marshal and unmarshal data into model
-	dataBytes, err := json.Marshal(hookCtx.Data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal data: %w", err)
+	// Convert request data to a map
+	var updates map[string]interface{}
+	if m, ok := hookCtx.Data.(map[string]interface{}); ok {
+		updates = m
+	} else {
+		dataBytes, err := json.Marshal(hookCtx.Data)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal data: %w", err)
+		}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(dataBytes, &updates); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal data into map: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(dataBytes, hookCtx.ModelPtr); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal data into model: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	// Update record
-	query := h.db.NewUpdate().Model(hookCtx.ModelPtr).Table(hookCtx.TableName)
-
-	// Add ID filter
 	pkName := reflection.GetPrimaryKeyName(hookCtx.Model)
-	query = query.Where(fmt.Sprintf("%s = ?", pkName), hookCtx.ID)
 
-	if _, err := query.Exec(hookCtx.Context); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to update record: %w", err)
+	// Only the keys present in the request are written. "" and null overwrite
+	// the stored value unless disallowNulls is set, in which case null is skipped.
+	values := common.MergeUpdateValues(make(map[string]interface{}, len(updates)), updates, h.disallowNulls)
+
+	if len(values) > 0 {
+		query := h.db.NewUpdate().Table(hookCtx.TableName).SetMap(values).
+			Where(fmt.Sprintf("%s = ?", common.QuoteIdent(pkName)), hookCtx.ID)
+
+		if _, err := query.Exec(hookCtx.Context); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to update record: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Fetch updated record

pkg/resolvespec/handler.go

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ type Handler struct {
 	fallbackHandler  FallbackHandler
 	openAPIGenerator func() (string, error)
 	defaultSort      map[string][]common.SortOption
+	disallowNulls    bool
 }
 
 // NewHandler creates a new API handler with database and registry abstractions
@@ -52,6 +53,14 @@ func (h *Handler) Hooks() *HookRegistry {
 	return h.hooks
 }
 
+// SetDisallowNulls controls whether explicit null values in update payloads are
+// ignored. By default a key present in the payload overwrites the stored value,
+// including "" and null. When true, null values are skipped and the existing
+// value is kept ("" still overwrites).
+func (h *Handler) SetDisallowNulls(disallow bool) {
+	h.disallowNulls = disallow
+}
+
 // SetFallbackHandler sets a fallback handler to be called when no model is found
 // If not set, the handler will simply return (pass through to next route)
 func (h *Handler) SetFallbackHandler(fallback FallbackHandler) {
@@ -1236,21 +1245,8 @@ func (h *Handler) handleUpdate(ctx context.Context, w common.ResponseWriter, url
 				return fmt.Errorf("error unmarshaling existing record: %w", err)
 			}
 
-			// Merge only non-null and non-empty values from the incoming request into the existing record
-			for key, newValue := range updates {
-				// Skip if the value is nil
-				if newValue == nil {
-					continue
-				}
-
-				// Skip if the value is an empty string
-				if strVal, ok := newValue.(string); ok && strVal == "" {
-					continue
-				}
-
-				// Update the existing map with the new value
-				existingMap[key] = newValue
-			}
+			// Overwrite with every key present in the request (including "" and null unless disallowed)
+			common.MergeUpdateValues(existingMap, updates, h.disallowNulls)
 
 			// Build update query with merged data
 			query := tx.NewUpdate().Table(tableName).SetMap(existingMap)
@@ -1421,16 +1417,8 @@ func (h *Handler) handleUpdate(ctx context.Context, w common.ResponseWriter, url
 						item = modifiedData
 					}
 
-					// Merge only non-null and non-empty values
-					for key, newValue := range item {
-						if newValue == nil {
-							continue
-						}
-						if strVal, ok := newValue.(string); ok && strVal == "" {
-							continue
-						}
-						existingMap[key] = newValue
-					}
+					// Overwrite with every key present in the request (including "" and null unless disallowed)
+					common.MergeUpdateValues(existingMap, item, h.disallowNulls)
 
 					txQuery := tx.NewUpdate().Table(tableName).SetMap(existingMap).Where(fmt.Sprintf("%s = ?", common.QuoteIdent(pkName)), itemID)
 					if _, err := txQuery.Exec(ctx); err != nil {
@@ -1578,16 +1566,8 @@ func (h *Handler) handleUpdate(ctx context.Context, w common.ResponseWriter, url
 							itemMap = modifiedData
 						}
 
-						// Merge only non-null and non-empty values
-						for key, newValue := range itemMap {
-							if newValue == nil {
-								continue
-							}
-							if strVal, ok := newValue.(string); ok && strVal == "" {
-								continue
-							}
-							existingMap[key] = newValue
-						}
+						// Overwrite with every key present in the request (including "" and null unless disallowed)
+						common.MergeUpdateValues(existingMap, itemMap, h.disallowNulls)
 
 						txQuery := tx.NewUpdate().Table(tableName).SetMap(existingMap).Where(fmt.Sprintf("%s = ?", common.QuoteIdent(pkName)), itemID)
 						if _, err := txQuery.Exec(ctx); err != nil {

pkg/restheadspec/handler.go

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ type Handler struct {
 	fallbackHandler  FallbackHandler
 	openAPIGenerator func() (string, error)
 	defaultSort      map[string][]common.SortOption
+	disallowNulls    bool
 }
 
 // NewHandler creates a new API handler with database and registry abstractions
@@ -59,6 +60,14 @@ func (h *Handler) Hooks() *HookRegistry {
 	return h.hooks
 }
 
+// SetDisallowNulls controls whether explicit null values in update payloads are
+// ignored. By default a key present in the payload overwrites the stored value,
+// including "" and null. When true, null values are skipped and the existing
+// value is kept ("" still overwrites).
+func (h *Handler) SetDisallowNulls(disallow bool) {
+	h.disallowNulls = disallow
+}
+
 // SetFallbackHandler sets a fallback handler to be called when no model is found
 // If not set, the handler will simply return (pass through to next route)
 func (h *Handler) SetFallbackHandler(fallback FallbackHandler) {
@@ -1597,21 +1606,8 @@ func (h *Handler) handleUpdate(ctx context.Context, w common.ResponseWriter, id
 			nestedRelations = relations
 		}
 
-		// Merge only non-null and non-empty values from the incoming request into the existing record
-		for key, newValue := range dataMap {
-			// Skip if the value is nil
-			if newValue == nil {
-				continue
-			}
-
-			// Skip if the value is an empty string
-			if strVal, ok := newValue.(string); ok && strVal == "" {
-				continue
-			}
-
-			// Update the existing map with the new value
-			existingMap[key] = newValue
-		}
+		// Overwrite with every key present in the request (including "" and null unless disallowed)
+		common.MergeUpdateValues(existingMap, dataMap, h.disallowNulls)
 
 		// Ensure ID is in the data map for the update
 		existingMap[pkName] = targetID

pkg/websocketspec/handler.go

@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ type Handler struct {
 	subscriptionManager *SubscriptionManager
 	upgrader            websocket.Upgrader
 	ctx                 context.Context
+
+	// disallowNulls skips null values in update payloads instead of applying them
+	disallowNulls bool
 }
 
 // NewHandler creates a new WebSocket handler
@@ -682,6 +685,14 @@ func (h *Handler) readMultiple(hookCtx *HookContext) (data interface{}, metadata
 	return hookCtx.ModelPtr, metadata, nil
 }
 
+// SetDisallowNulls controls whether explicit null values in update payloads are
+// ignored. By default a key present in the payload overwrites the stored value,
+// including "" and null. When true, null values are skipped and the existing
+// value is kept ("" still overwrites).
+func (h *Handler) SetDisallowNulls(disallow bool) {
+	h.disallowNulls = disallow
+}
+
 func (h *Handler) create(hookCtx *HookContext) (interface{}, error) {
 	// Marshal and unmarshal data into model
 	dataBytes, err := json.Marshal(hookCtx.Data)
@@ -709,25 +720,33 @@ func (h *Handler) create(hookCtx *HookContext) (interface{}, error) {
 }
 
 func (h *Handler) update(hookCtx *HookContext) (interface{}, error) {
-	// Marshal and unmarshal data into model
-	dataBytes, err := json.Marshal(hookCtx.Data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal data: %w", err)
+	// Convert request data to a map
+	var updates map[string]interface{}
+	if m, ok := hookCtx.Data.(map[string]interface{}); ok {
+		updates = m
+	} else {
+		dataBytes, err := json.Marshal(hookCtx.Data)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal data: %w", err)
+		}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(dataBytes, &updates); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal data into map: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(dataBytes, hookCtx.ModelPtr); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal data into model: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	// Update record
-	query := h.db.NewUpdate().Model(hookCtx.ModelPtr).Table(hookCtx.TableName)
-
-	// Add ID filter
 	pkName := reflection.GetPrimaryKeyName(hookCtx.Model)
-	query = query.Where(fmt.Sprintf("%s = ?", pkName), hookCtx.ID)
 
-	if _, err := query.Exec(hookCtx.Context); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to update record: %w", err)
+	// Only the keys present in the request are written. "" and null overwrite
+	// the stored value unless disallowNulls is set, in which case null is skipped.
+	values := common.MergeUpdateValues(make(map[string]interface{}, len(updates)), updates, h.disallowNulls)
+
+	if len(values) > 0 {
+		query := h.db.NewUpdate().Table(hookCtx.TableName).SetMap(values).
+			Where(fmt.Sprintf("%s = ?", common.QuoteIdent(pkName)), hookCtx.ID)
+
+		if _, err := query.Exec(hookCtx.Context); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to update record: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Fetch updated record