xclip

xclip is a command-line utility available on many Linux systems that enables you to manage the clipboard data within the X Window System (X11) environment. It provides functionality similar to the built-in pbcopy and pbpaste commands found on macOS.

A feature of this tool is that is supports secondary selection. Many graphical environments have a secondary selection buffer (middle mouse button) in addition to the main clipboard. This tool can be used to work with this secondary buffer as well.

Installation

The installation method for xclip varies depending on your Linux distribution. It might already be installed.

Here are some common approaches:

Debian-based systems
```
  sudo apt install xclip
```
Red Hat-based systems:
```
  $ sudo yum install xclip
```
Arch Linux and Manjaro:
```
  $ sudo pacman -S xclip
```

Usage

Manual

For detailed information on these options and more, refer to the xclip man page:

$ man xclip

Use xclip - see man page.

xclip [OPTION] [FILE]…

Description

Reads from standard in, or from one or more files, and makes the data available as an X selection for pasting into X applications. Prints current X selection to standard out.

See clipboard management tasks below.

Read

Store value in X clipboard selection.

Pipe to xclip:

$ COMMAND | xclip

$ echo 'My content' | xclip

Read a file:

$ xclip -i PATH
$ # OR
$ xclip < PATH
$ # OR
$ xclip PATH

Output

Print clipboard contents:

$ xclip

Paste clipboard contents to a file:

$ xclip -o PATH
$ # OR
$ xclip > PATH

Selection

-selection clipboard: This specifies the primary clipboard (default).
-selection primary: This targets the primrary selection (if available).
-selection secondary: This targets the secondary clipboard (if available).

e.g.

$ xclip -sel clip PATH

Configure aliases

Reduce how much you have to type by imitating use of pbcopy and pbpaste on macOS.

Edit your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc with these aliases:

if [ -z "$(command -v pbcopy)" ]; then
  alias pbcopy='xclip -selection clipboard'
  alias pbpaste='xclip -selection clipboard -o'
fi

If pbcopy is installed, it will do nothing, so you can apply that same code on macOS and Linux.

Test like this:

$ echo 'Testing content sent to clipboard and printed out' | pbcopy && pbpaste

Then use your alias like this:

$ echo "This is a test" | pbcopy
$ pbpaste > PATH