[Home](./index.md) > [bitburner](./bitburner.md) > [NS](./bitburner.ns.md) > [read](./bitburner.ns.read.md) ## NS.read() method Read content of a file. Signature: ```typescript read(filename: string): string; ``` ## Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | filename | string | Name of the file to be read. | Returns: string Data in the specified text file. ## Remarks RAM cost: 0 GB This function is used to read data from a text file (.txt) or script (.script, .js). This function will return the data in the specified file. If the file does not exist, an empty string will be returned.