cutandpaste

Cut and paste is a set of data-management operations used in computing to move or copy information within or between applications. The cut action removes the selected data from its original location and places it into a temporary storage area called the clipboard, while paste inserts the clipboard contents at the chosen destination. Copy is a related operation that stores a duplicate without removing the source.

These actions are typically exposed in user interfaces as menu commands, toolbar buttons, and keyboard shortcuts. The common conventions are Ctrl+X, Ctrl+C, and Ctrl+V on Windows and Linux, and Command+X, Command+C, and Command+V on macOS. Many environments also support drag-and-drop as an alternative method. Modern operating systems manage a cross-application clipboard capable of handling multiple data formats, including plain text, rich text, images, and files.

Originating in early text editors and popularized by graphical user interfaces in the late 20th century, cut and paste remains a fundamental workflow for editing and reorganizing information. It is widely used in word processors, email clients, code editors, and file managers to relocate or duplicate content across documents and applications. Some platforms extend clipboard functionality with history, synchronization across devices, or security controls that limit access by other software.