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[Home](./index.md) &gt; [bitburner](./bitburner.md) &gt; [NetscriptPort](./bitburner.netscriptport.md) &gt; [read](./bitburner.netscriptport.read.md)

## NetscriptPort.read() method

Shift an element out of the port.

<b>Signature:</b>

```typescript
read(): string | number;
```
<b>Returns:</b>

string \| number

the data read.

## Remarks

RAM cost: 0 GB

This function will remove the first element from the port and return it. If the port is empty, then the string “NULL PORT DATA” will be returned.

