# Use Serial Monitor to View Data The Arduino code editor has a serial monitor which can be used to view data sent by your robot over a USB connection to your computer. ## Connect Robot to Computer Connect your robot to your computer using the USB cable. If necessary, upload your app to your robot. Two important reminders: 1. If your app will be driving the robot's motors, be sure the robot is standing upright on its back end (so its wheel are in the air) to prevent your robot from driving away while it's connected to your computer. (Another option is that you could temporarily set the **Motor** switch to **STOP**.) 2. Do **not** unplug the USB cable. You'll need to keep the robot connected to your computer, in order to allow and view the serial data communication. ## View Serial Monitor ### Arduino Create Web Editor Click the **Monitor** menu link in the left navigation to display the serial monitor in the middle panel. When you are finished viewing the serial data, you can click the **Disconnect** button. ### Arduino IDE Desktop Editor Under the **Tools** menu, select "Serial Monitor." A new window will appear displaying the serial monitor. When you are finished viewing the serial data, you can close the serial monitor window. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.idew.org/code-robotics/references/arduino-code-editor/use-serial-monitor-to-view-data.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.