GetClipboardData function (winuser.h)

Article
02/22/2024

Retrieves data from the clipboard in a specified format. The clipboard must have been opened previously.

Syntax

HANDLE GetClipboardData(
  [in] UINT uFormat
);

Parameters

[in] uFormat

Type: UINT

A clipboard format. For a description of the standard clipboard formats, see Standard Clipboard Formats.

Return value

Type: HANDLE

If the function succeeds, the return value is the handle to a clipboard object in the specified format.

If the function fails, the return value is NULL. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

Caution Clipboard data is not trusted. Parse the data carefully before using it in your application.

An application can enumerate the available formats in advance by using the EnumClipboardFormats function.

The clipboard controls the handle that the GetClipboardData function returns, not the application. The application should copy the data immediately. The application must not free the handle nor leave it locked. The application must not use the handle after the EmptyClipboard or CloseClipboard function is called, or after the SetClipboardData function is called with the same clipboard format.

The system performs implicit data format conversions between certain clipboard formats when an application calls the GetClipboardData function. For example, if the CF_OEMTEXT format is on the clipboard, a window can retrieve data in the CF_TEXT format. The format on the clipboard is converted to the requested format on demand. For more information, see Synthesized Clipboard Formats.

Examples

For an example, see Copying Information to the Clipboard.

Requirements

Requirement	Value
Minimum supported client	Windows 2000 Professional [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server	Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only]
Target Platform	Windows
Header	winuser.h (include Windows.h)
Library	User32.lib
DLL	User32.dll
API set	ext-ms-win-ntuser-misc-l1-2-0 (introduced in Windows 8.1)

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