How do you copy/paste from the clipboard in C++?

You can use ClipboardXX library for copy and pasting simple texts. Just download clipboardXX.hpp from github and copy it to your project path. Then follow its examples:

#include "clipboard.hpp"
#include <string>

int main() {
    clipboardxx::clipboard clipboard;

    // copy
    clipboard << "text you wanna copy";

    // paste
    std::string paste_text;
    clipboard >> paste_text;
}

There is a cross platform way to do this in C++, provided you are willing to use the Qt Library.

A solution for this is provided here:

https://stackoverflow.com/a/40437290/2158002

In windows look at the following API:

• OpenClipBoard
• EmptyClipboard
• SetClipboardData
• CloseClipboard
• GetClipboardData

An extensive discussion can be found here. Obviously this topic is strongly operating system related. And if you are using some framework (ie MFC/ATL) you generally find some helper infrastructure. This reply refer to the lowest API level in WIndows. If you are planning to use MFC have a look here, if you prefer ATL look here.

There is no cross-platform way to do this in C++

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Now that we have that out of the way, Felice Pollano's answer provides the Windows API so you can manipulate the clipboard in Windows.

Apple provides an example application named ClipboardViewer and an entire reference to the NSPasteBoard and the functionality it provides.

As for Linux, it depends on what windowing manager you are running.