How to copy images
Learn how to copy images to the clipboard.
Many modern browsers support copying images to the clipboard in the formats PNG and SVG. Other formats are not yet supported for security reasons.
The modern way #
Using the Async Clipboard API #
The Clipboard.write()
method takes an array of ClipboardItem
objects and returns a Promise that resolves when the image is successfully written to the clipboard. Clipboard.write()
can only be used from the window
object that has focus.
Browser support
- Chrome 66, Supported 66
- Firefox 87, Behind a flag
- Edge 79, Supported 79
- Safari 13.1, Supported 13.1
The classic way #
Using navigator.clipboard.writeText()
#
While not all browsers support navigator.clipboard.write()
for binary data yet, they all support navigator.clipboard.writeText()
. If you want to copy an SVG image, instead of copying the image itself, you can copy the SVG source code. For PNG images, you are unfortunately out of luck.
Browser support
- Chrome 66, Supported 66
- Firefox 63, Supported 63
- Edge 79, Supported 79
- Safari 13.1, Supported 13.1
Progressive enhancement #
const button = document.querySelector('button');
const img = document.querySelector('img');
button.addEventListener('click', async () => {
const responsePromise = fetch(img.src);
try {
if ('write' in navigator.clipboard) {
await navigator.clipboard.write([
new ClipboardItem({
'image/svg+xml': new Promise(async (resolve) => {
const blob = await responsePromise.then(response => response.blob());
resolve(blob);
}),
}),
]);
// Image copied as image.
} else {
const text = await responsePromise.then(response => response.text());
await navigator.clipboard.writeText(text);
// Image copied as source code.
}
} catch (err) {
console.error(err.name, err.message);
}
});
Further reading #
Demo #
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
<link
rel="icon"
href="data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 viewBox=%220 0 100 100%22><text y=%22.9em%22 font-size=%2290%22>🎉</text></svg>"
/>
<title>How to copy images</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>How to copy images</h1>
<img src="assets/fugu.svg" alt="Fugu fish." width="128" height="128">
<button type="button">Copy</button>
</body>
</html>
const button = document.querySelector('button');
const img = document.querySelector('img');
button.addEventListener('click', async () => {
const responsePromise = fetch(img.src);
try {
if ('write' in navigator.clipboard) {
await navigator.clipboard.write([
new ClipboardItem({
'image/svg+xml': new Promise(async (resolve) => {
const blob = await responsePromise.then(response => response.blob());
resolve(blob);
}),
}),
]);
// Image copied as image.
} else {
const text = await responsePromise.then(response => response.text());
await navigator.clipboard.writeText(text);
// Image copied as source code.
}
} catch (err) {
console.error(err.name, err.message);
}
});
:root {
color-scheme: dark light;
}
html {
box-sizing: border-box;
}
*,
*:before,
*:after {
box-sizing: inherit;
}
body {
margin: 1rem;
font-family: system-ui, sans-serif;
}
button {
display: block;
}