Clipboard Operations
X11 (xclip)
Install
bash
# Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt install xclip # Arch sudo pacman -S xclip # Fedora sudo dnf install xclip
Read clipboard
bash
xclip -selection clipboard -o
Write to clipboard
bash
echo "text to copy" | xclip -selection clipboard
Copy file contents
bash
xclip -selection clipboard < file.txt
Copy command output
bash
ls -la | xclip -selection clipboard
X11 (xsel) -- alternative
bash
# Read xsel --clipboard --output # Write echo "text" | xsel --clipboard --input # Clear xsel --clipboard --delete
Wayland (wl-clipboard)
Install
bash
# Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt install wl-clipboard # Arch sudo pacman -S wl-clipboard # Fedora sudo dnf install wl-clipboard
Read clipboard
bash
wl-paste
Write to clipboard
bash
echo "text to copy" | wl-copy
Copy file contents
bash
wl-copy < file.txt
Detect display server
bash
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.