Reading from a target is very similar to writing, but requires some additional steps. In order to read from a target, the controller must first instruct the target which register it wishes to read from. This is done by the controller starting off the transmission in a similar fashion as the write, by sending the address with the R/ W bit equal to 0 (signifying a write), followed by the register address it wishes to read from. When the target acknowledges this register address, the controller sends a START condition again, followed by the target address with the R/ W bit set to 1 (signifying a read). This time, the target acknowledges the read request, and the controller releases the SDA bus but continues supplying the clock to the target. During this part of the transaction, the controller becomes the controller-receiver, and the target becomes the target-transmitter.

The controller continues to send out the clock pulses, but releases the SDA line so that the target can transmit data. At the end of every byte of data, the controller sends an ACK to the target, letting the target know that it is ready for more data. When the controller has received the number of bytes it is expecting, it sends a NACK, signaling to the target to halt communications and release the bus. The controller follows this up with a STOP condition.

Read transactions that are performed without writing to the address of the device and simply supply the command byte will result in a NACK.

#SCPS2341018 and #SCPS2341856 show an example of reading a single byte from a target register.