<!-- Do not edit this file. It is automatically generated by API Documenter. --> [Home](./index.md) > [bitburner](./bitburner.md) > [NetscriptPort](./bitburner.netscriptport.md) > [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.