| 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
sudo apt install xclip
sudo pacman -S xclip
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
xsel --clipboard --output
echo "text" | xsel --clipboard --input
xsel --clipboard --delete
Wayland (wl-clipboard)
Install
sudo apt install wl-clipboard
sudo pacman -S wl-clipboard
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
On headless/SSH systems, clipboard tools require a display server. Use files or pipes for data transfer instead.