Next() simple express app example: var express = require ( 'express' ); var app = express (); app . get ( '/user/:id' , function ( req , res , next ) { console . log ( 'FIRST request handler' ); next (); }); app . get ( '/user/:id' , function ( req , res , next ) { console . log ( 'USED request' ); res . sendStatus ( 200 ); next (); }); app . get ( '/user/:id' , function ( req , res , next ) { console . log ( 'FINAL request handler' ); next (); }); app . listen ( 3000 , function () { console . log ( 'Example app listening on port 3000!' ) }); If you do http : //localhost:3000/user/999 you will see this printed to console: FIRST request handler USED request FINAL request handler Now if you comment out the call to next() in the middle handler like this: app . get ( '/user/:id' , function ( req , res , next ) { console . log ( ...