# ncat > Read, write, redirect, and encrypt data across a network. > An alternative implementation of a similar utility called `netcat`/`nc`. > More information: . - Listen for input on the specified port and write it to the specified file: `ncat {{[-l|--listen]}} {{port}} > {{path/to/file}}` - Accept multiple connections and keep ncat open after they have been closed: `ncat {{[-lk|--listen --keep-open]}} {{port}}` - Write output of specified file to the specified host on the specified port: `ncat {{address}} {{port}} < {{path/to/file}}` - Accept multiple incoming connections on an encrypted channel evading detection of traffic content: `ncat --ssl {{[-k|--keep-open]}} {{[-l|--listen]}} {{port}}` - Connect to an open `ncat` connection over SSL: `ncat --ssl {{host}} {{port}}` - Check connectivity to a remote host on a particular port with timeout: `ncat {{[-w|--wait]}} {{seconds}} {{[-vz|--verbose -z]}} {{host}} {{port}}`