---
title: "Middle Man"
type: "code-smell"
slug: "middle-man"
url: "http://localhost:3000/en/smells/middle-man.md"
category: "Couplers"
description: "If a class performs only one action, delegating work to another class, why does it exist at all?"
---
# Middle Man

> If a class performs only one action, delegating work to another class, why does it exist at all?

## Signs and Symptoms

If a class performs only one action, delegating work to another class, why does it exist at all?

## Reasons for the Problem

This smell can be the result of overzealous elimination of [Message Chains](/smells/message-chains).

In other cases, it can be the result of the useful work of a class being gradually moved to other classes. The class remains as an empty shell that doesn’t do anything other than delegate.

## Payoff

* Less bulky code.
## Relations

**Treated by**

- [Remove Middle Man](/en/remove-middle-man.md)