# How do I return a value to the console?

**URL:** <https://community.particle.io/t/how-do-i-return-a-value-to-the-console/18459>\
**Category:** Getting Started\
**Created:** [December 22, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/how-do-i-return-a-value-to-the-console/18459 "2015-12-22T04:16:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hsingh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2bfe46/32.png) [@hsingh](https://community.particle.io/u/hsingh)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/how-do-i-return-a-value-to-the-console/18459/1 "2015-12-22T04:16:40Z")

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I’m having the Particle manipulate some raw data from a sensor, and I need that to be outputted on my computer screen. How would I do this? I’m rather new to this all. Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![TechAlex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@TechAlex](https://community.particle.io/u/TechAlex)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/how-do-i-return-a-value-to-the-console/18459/2 "2015-12-22T05:36:38Z")

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Just use a terminal emulator like Putty, RealTerm, SecureCRT, and many other.

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**Author:** ![irushavm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@irushavm](https://community.particle.io/u/irushavm)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 8:16am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/how-do-i-return-a-value-to-the-console/18459/3 "2015-12-22T08:16:32Z")

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Hey @hsingh

To output some values to the computer screen, you need to do two things:

On the Photon code --\> use the “Serial” functions to output data through the micro usb or the TX-RX pins. Follow this guide for more info: [https://docs.particle.io/reference/firmware/photon/#serial](https://docs.particle.io/reference/firmware/photon/#serial)

On the computer side --\> If you’re on Windows, your best bet is to use Putty. Here’s another guide you can follow: [http://kb.cyberoam.com/default.asp?id=2193](http://kb.cyberoam.com/default.asp?id=2193)

If you’re on Linux (Ubuntu), you can use “python miniterm” out “screen”.

Hope this helps!