How do I grab data from my Arduino device using a Python program? We are currently creating a system which can log student attendance using RFIDs. Currently, we have the RFID Scanner set up (MFRC522 reader and Arduino UNO microcontroller). The database for the student's info and time-logging is also already set up. We are; however, having problems with accessing the data the Arduino is sending. We want the Arduino device to send us the Tag IDs via a USB Connection and have set it up to send the relevant data through the Serial Port. However, we cannot access this data using a Python program with this code.

import serial

x = 1
while(x == 1 ):
    ser = serial.Serial("COM3", baudrate = 9600, timeout = 0)
    if(ser.is_open):
       print("Serial Port in Use")
    else:
       print("Card ID: " + ser.read)


We are attempting to read from Port COM3 (the SP the Arduino uses). If the serial port is in use, the program outputs the "Serial Port in Use" (for testing purposes only, to be removed in final code) and if not, it will output the Card ID. However, through this, we run into the problem of being unable to use the same serial port with the Arduino (we are running on Windows). We tried using a serial port splitter but replacing the "COM3" with the name of the virtual port does not work. 

We would prefer not to use Processing and would be open to simply avoiding the use of a serial port completely.
It isn't a good idea to open serial in a loop. It can be opened once at the start (or you can retry once per few seconds, if it fails).

Also the method is_open should return true if the serial was successfully opened so you can use it.

Maybe some working example would be a good way to start.