Meaning:

• When spoken with a high or rising intonation the meaning is: "isn't it?" "don't you think?" "right?" "you see?": tag question; it asks for confirmation.
行きますね。You are going, aren't you?
 
• In a falling intonation, it conveys the speaker's hesitation or agreement; it asks for agreement.
ほんとう(です)ねえ。Yes, indeed (that's the way things go, isn't it?).
 
• When prolonged into ねえ, it emphatically asks for agreement.
そうですねえ。Isn't it so, indeed!
 

Location:  Behind just about any part of speech other than non-polite imperative.

あのね、あしたね、試験がね、あるのね、だからね、・・・
        Say, I have a test tomorrow, so . . .

Gender:  Both men and women use this particle.

Level:  Informal

Alternatives:

• Women may use わね(え) instead.
暑いわねえ。It's hot, isn't it?
 
• Men may use な、なあ instead.
暑いなあ。It's hot, isn't it?
 
• よね（え）means "Am I right in believing . . . " "Don't you agree?"
試験は来週（だ）よね、さらいしゅうじゃない（わ）よね。
The test is next week, not the week after, is it?
 
• かね（え）means "I wonder . . ."
こんな絵がいい絵なのかね（え）。Is this picture supposed to be good?

Warning:

※ね is a major devise for avoiding confrontation.  While よ is insistent, ね is compromising.