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## int Serial.available()

#### Description

Get the number of bytes (characters) available for reading over the serial port.

### Parameters

None

#### Returns

The number of bytes are available to read in the serial buffer, or 0 if none are available. If any data has come in, Serial.available() will be greater than 0. The serial buffer can hold up to 128 bytes.

### Example

    int incomingByte = 0;	// for incoming serial data

    void setup() {
    	Serial.begin(9600);	// opens serial port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
    }

    void loop() {

    	// send data only when you receive data:
    	if (Serial.available() > 0) {
    		// read the incoming byte:
    		incomingByte = Serial.read();

    		// say what you got:
    		Serial.print("I received: ");
    		Serial.println(incomingByte, DEC);
    	}
    }

#### Note:

Serial.available has a documented bug in it in Arduino v.0007. This will be patched in v.0008, but see this thread if you wish to patch Serial.available in Arduino 0007.

#### See also

- Serial.begin(speed)
- Serial.read()
- Serial.print(data)
- Serial.println(data)

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