The white wire of the cable going to the switch is attached to the black line in the fixture box using a wirenut. This allows you to control a load from other locations in addition to the 2 locations that a 3 way circuit provides.

Removing Switches From 4 Way Switch Home Improvement Stack
How to wire up a 4 way switch. Two terminalpoles are labeled in and two are labeled out pairs of wires called travelers will connect to each side. A 4 way switch wiring diagram is the clearest and easiest way to wire that pesky 4 way switch. Study the 4 way switch and the manufacturers directions. This 3 way light switch wiring diagram shows how to do the light switch wiring and the light when the power is coming to the light fixture. This 4 way switch diagram 1 shows the power source starting at the left 3 way switch. Free quick start guide here.
Wiring a 4 way switch with light at the end. When the switch is operated current will either travel straight through or crisscross. A 4 way switch has 4 terminals or poles. In this basic 4 way light circuit 3 wire cable runs between all the switches and 2 wire cable runs from the last switch to the light. How to wire a 4 way switch. The electrical source is at the first 3 way switch and the hot wire connects to the common there.
Wiring a 4 way switch is simply adding a switch to an already existing 3 way switch circuit. Here are another couple of variations of 3 and 4 way switch circuits. This 4 way switch diagram 2 shows the power source starting at the fixture. Here is an example of a light in the middle of the run. All the 4 way switches are optional. In this diagram power enters the fixture box.
First of all we need to go over a little basic terminology on switches. 3 way switch wire diagram power to light fixture. The black hot wire connects to the far right switchs common terminal. I have a few of the most common ways in wiring a 4 way switch to help you with your basic home wiring projects. If you only need two switches leave out both the 4 way switches. You can also add as many 4 way switches as you like in place of any one shown in the circuits that follow.