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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.

**Signature:**

```typescript
read(): PortData;
```
**Returns:**

[PortData](./bitburner.portdata.md)

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.