getselections

getselections is a common function name used in software to retrieve user-selected content or items from a source such as a document, editor, or data container. It is not a standardized API, but a pattern found across languages and libraries to sample one or more selections for further processing.

Return formats vary. In text contexts, it may return an array of range objects or a combined string. In UI contexts, it may return objects with properties such as type, startIndex, endIndex, and the selected value. Some implementations return a single primary selection when multiple are not supported.

In web development, getselections often wraps or complements built-in APIs like window.getSelection or document.getSelection, providing multi-range support or normalization across iframe boundaries. In editors and data tools, it can synchronize selections with models or selections for batch operations.

Implementation notes: performance considerations, privacy. Security restrictions may limit access to clipboard data; selections may be ephemeral and depend on focus.

See also: getSelection, Selection API, Rangy, Range, multi-select.