clipboard

name	clipboard
description	Read or write the Linux clipboard. Use when copying/pasting text, transferring data between apps, or accessing clipboard contents.

Clipboard Operations

X11 (xclip)

Install

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install xclip

# Arch
sudo pacman -S xclip

# Fedora
sudo dnf install xclip

Read clipboard

xclip -selection clipboard -o

Write to clipboard

echo "text to copy" | xclip -selection clipboard

Copy file contents

xclip -selection clipboard < file.txt

Copy command output

ls -la | xclip -selection clipboard

X11 (xsel) -- alternative

# Read
xsel --clipboard --output

# Write
echo "text" | xsel --clipboard --input

# Clear
xsel --clipboard --delete

Wayland (wl-clipboard)

Install

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install wl-clipboard

# Arch
sudo pacman -S wl-clipboard

# Fedora
sudo dnf install wl-clipboard

Read clipboard

wl-paste

Write to clipboard

echo "text to copy" | wl-copy

Copy file contents

wl-copy < file.txt

Detect display server

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE
# Returns: x11, wayland, or tty

On headless/SSH systems, clipboard tools require a display server. Use files or pipes for data transfer instead.