$ Linux Command

System

xclip

Command-line interface to the X clipboard.

x11clipboardcopypasteselection

Additional Notes

xclip sends data to or retrieves data from the X11 clipboard selections. X11 has multiple clipboards: the PRIMARY selection (middle-click paste), the CLIPBOARD selection (Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V), and the SECONDARY selection (rarely used). By default, xclip uses the PRIMARY selection.

It is widely used in shell scripts and terminal workflows to pipe command output directly into the clipboard, or to retrieve clipboard content for further processing. Combined with aliases or shell functions, it provides clipboard integration for terminal users.

Syntax

xclip [options] [file...]

Parameters

  • file: File to copy into the clipboard. If omitted, reads from standard input.

Common Options

  • -i, -in: Read input into the selection (default).
  • -o, -out: Print the selection to standard output.
  • -selection name: Specify which selection to use: primary, secondary, or clipboard.
  • -t type: Set the target MIME type.
  • -l, -loops N: Run in a loop, providing the selection for N requests (for clipboard daemon behavior).
  • -d, -display display: Use the specified X display.
  • -f, -filter: Filter mode: copy input to selection and also pass to stdout.
  • -silent: Suppress error messages.
  • -rmlastnl: Remove the trailing newline.

Examples

echo "Hello" | xclip

Copy "Hello" to the PRIMARY selection (middle-click paste).

echo "Hello" | xclip -selection clipboard

Copy "Hello" to the CLIPBOARD selection (Ctrl+V paste).

xclip -o

Print the PRIMARY selection content.

xclip -o -selection clipboard

Print the CLIPBOARD selection content.

cat output.txt | xclip -selection clipboard

Copy a file to the clipboard.

screenshot | xclip -t image/png -selection clipboard

Copy an image to the clipboard.

Practical Notes

  • xclip requires a running X server. It does not work in a pure terminal (tty) environment.
  • On Wayland, xclip may not work. Use wl-clipboard tools (wl-copy, wl-paste) instead.
  • Common alias: alias xcopy='xclip -selection clipboard' and alias xpaste='xclip -o -selection clipboard'.
  • For persisting clipboard content after an application closes, use xclip -loops 0 (clipboard daemon mode).
  • The xclipboard GUI tool displays and manages clipboard history.