How to use two clipboards?
I use Ubuntu 20.04. I have read that Linux uses two clipboards:
- copy/paste using a mouse context menu
- copy/paste using keys: ctrl + c/ctrl + v
Here is my example usage (actions are performed in the Firefox):
- select a text using mouse and select from the mouse context menu "copy"
- select a text using mouse and press ctrl + c
- paste the text using mouse context menu
- paste the text using keys ctrl + v
I get the same paste result – the text copied using the last copy operation. Shouldn’t I get different paste results ? How does it work ?
Yes, there are two buffers that store something that can be pasted. These are:
-
Primary
You copy by selecting text, nothing else, simply selecting. The selected text can then be pasted by pressing the middle button (the wheel, on most modern mice) of the mouse. No Ctrl+C, no Ctrl+V, no right click copy, no nothing. Just select and then middle-click to paste.
-
Clipboard
This is the one you will be familiar with from other operating systems. This is what Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V copies and pastes. This is what right click -> copy and right click -> paste use.
Some useful links: