[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. Signature: ```typescript read(): string | number; ``` Returns: 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.