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Serial.available()
Description
Get the number of bytes (characters) available for reading from the serial port. This is data that's already arrived and stored in the serial receive buffer (which holds 64 bytes).
Serial.available() inherits from the Stream utility class.
Syntax
Serial.available()
Parameter Values
- Serial: serial port object. See the list of available serial ports for each board on the Serial main page.
Return Values
- The number of bytes available to read.
Example Code
Example Code 1
The following code returns a character received through the serial port.
int incomingByte = 0; // for incoming serial data
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600); // opens serial port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
}
void loop() {
// check if data is available
if (Serial.available() > 0) {
// read the incoming byte:
incomingByte = Serial.read();
// prints the received data
Serial.print("I received: ");
Serial.println((char)incomingByte);
}
}
- Type "HELLO" on Serial Monitor and click Send button:
COM6
Autoscroll
Clear output
9600 baud
Newline
- The result on Serial Monitor:
COM6
I received: H
I received: E
I received: L
I received: L
I received: O
I received:
Autoscroll
Clear output
9600 baud
Newline
Example Code 2
const int BUFFER_SIZE = 5;
char buf[BUFFER_SIZE]; // application buffer
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600); // opens serial port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
}
void loop() {
// check if data is available
int rxlen = Serial.available(); // number of bytes available in Serial buffer
if (rxlen > 0) {
int rlen; // number of bytes to read
if (rxlen > BUFFER_SIZE) // check if the data exceeds the buffer size
rlen = BUFFER_SIZE; // if yes, read BUFFER_SIZE bytes. The remaining will be read in the next time
else
rlen = rxlen;
// read the incoming bytes:
rlen = Serial.readBytes(buf, rlen);
// TODO: PROCESS THE INCOMING DATA HERE
}
}
Arduino Mega example:
This code sends data received in one serial port of the Arduino Mega to another. This can be used, for example, to connect a serial device to the computer through the Arduino board.
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial1.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
// read from port 0, send to port 1:
if (Serial.available()) {
int inByte = Serial.read();
Serial1.print(inByte, DEC);
}
// read from port 1, send to port 0:
if (Serial1.available()) {
int inByte = Serial1.read();
Serial.print(inByte, DEC);
}
}
※ NOTES AND WARNINGS:
Serial functions are not only used for the communication between an Arduino board and Serial Monitor of Arduino IDE but also used for the communication between:
- An Arduino board and other Arduino board
- An Arduino board and other sensors/devices
- An Arduino board and computer (any Serial software on computer)* An Arduino board and other Arduino board
- An Arduino board and other sensors/devices
- An Arduino board and computer (any Serial software on computer)
See Also
- Language : Arduino - Serial
- Language : Serial.availableForWrite()
- Language : Serial.begin()
- Language : Serial.end()
- Language : Serial.find()
- Language : Serial.findUntil()
- Language : Serial.flush()
- Language : Serial.getTimeout()
- Language : if(Serial)
- Language : Serial.parseFloat()
- Language : Serial.parseInt()
- Language : Serial.peek()
- Language : Serial.print()
- Language : Serial.println()
- Language : Serial.read()
- Language : Serial.readBytes()
- Language : Serial.readBytesUntil()
- Language : Serial.readString()
- Language : Serial.readStringUntil()
- Language : serialEvent()
- Language : Serial.setTimeout()
- Language : Serial.write()
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