# What it does
The `read` method in `Ruby On Rails` allows you to read data stored in a file. 

# Syntax

Following is how you use the `read` method:


In the syntax above `file` represents the file pointer of the opened file. 


# Prerequisite for usage 
To use this method, you must first open up a file using the `open` method and then call the `read` method on the now open file.

# Parameters
The `read` requires no parameters to work.

# Return value
The `read` method returns all the data stored in the file. 

# Examples

The following is an example where we read and print the stored data in a `.txt` file in the same directory as our `main` file.

# opening the file
f = File.open("to_read.txt")

# reading data from the file and storing it
data_read = f.read

# closing the file
f.close

# printing the read data to the console
puts data_read



Instead of opening and closing a file every time to read, you can use the `File.read` method. The `File.read` method takes in the name of the file you want to open and reads and returns the data stored in it. 

Following is a code example showing its usage:

# opening the file
data_read = File.read("to_read.txt")

# printing the read data to the console
puts data_read

What is Read in Ruby On Rails?

The read method reads data from an opened file without parameters and returns all its contents.