Bug-1773681 Showing Paste button for navigator.clipboard.readText() by rebloor · Pull Request #42263 · mdn/content

rebloor · 2025-12-05T18:04:47Z

Description

This change addresses the dev-docs-needed requirement of Bug 1773681 Enable showing "Paste" button for navigator.clipboard.readText() when called from Addons which don't have clipboardRead permssion.

The changes include:

a release note.
an update to the Interact with the clipboard article. In addition to aligning the documentation with this change, references to the deprecated document.execCommand methods were removed.
an update to the clipboard section on the Pesmissions page to remove references to the deprecated document.execCommand methods.
an update to the Clipboard API overview page's Security consideration section to align the documentation with this change.

Related issues and pull requests

Notes in the BCD updated in mdn/browser-compat-data#28587.
Also fixes #42688.

github-actions · 2025-12-05T18:27:31Z

This pull request has merge conflicts that must be resolved before it can be merged.

…or.clipboard.readText()

github-actions · 2025-12-07T16:03:59Z

Preview URLs (4 pages)

Flaws (1)

Note! 3 documents with no flaws that don't need to be listed. 🎉

Found an unexpected or unresolvable flaw? Please report it here.

URL: /en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Interact_with_the_clipboard
Title: Interact with the clipboard
Flaw count: 1

broken_links:
- Link /en-US/docs/Web/Security/Secure_Contexts is a redirect

External URLs (1)

URL: /en-US/docs/Mozilla/Firefox/Releases/147
Title: Firefox 147 release notes for developers (Stable)

https://bugzil.la/1773681 (1 time) (Note! This may be a new URL 👀)

(comment last updated: 2026-01-27 13:03:35)

dotproto

Be aware that this change does not accurately reflect how to work with the clipboard in extensions across browsers. Specifically, Chrome does not expose navigator.clipboard to extension service workers and offscreen documents cannot access navigator.clipboard due to the API's document focus requirements. As a result, Chrome extensions have to fall back to using the deprecated document.execCommand() APIs in an offscreen document or using navigator.clipboad in a different context (content scripts or extension pages).

While I strongly feel that we should target cross-browser extension develpment, I don't want to block this PR or require a rewrite at the moment. That said, if we don't integrate cross-browser develpment in this revision, we may need to revise this article again in the coming months. @rebloor, do you have any preferences on how we should proceed?

…d.readText()' of ssh://github.com/rebloor/content into Bug-1773681-Showing-Paste-button-for-navigator.clipboard.readText()

…or.clipboard.readText()

rebloor · 2025-12-11T17:19:46Z

@dotproto I've added the additional Chrome information. I'd checked for any additional information prior to making the changes and couldn't find anything suggesting there were any further considerations. Do you have a link to any Chrome documentation?

Rob--W

Besides the feedback below, also some browser compatibility notes:

clipboardWrite permission enables writing to the clipboard from all extension contexts and content scripts in Firefox (and Chrome). In ~~Chrome and~~ Safari, the clipboardWrite permission is only supported in extension contexts (not content scripts).
clipboardRead permission enables writing to the clipboard from all extension contexts and content scripts in Firefox and Chrome. ~~In Chrome, the clipboardRead permission is only supported in extension contexts (not content scripts).~~ Safari does not support the clipboardRead permission at all.

EDIT: Chrome also supports reading and writing from clipboard in content scripts. When I tested it before, I made a mistake.

Rob--W · 2025-12-30T17:14:53Z

files/en-us/mozilla/add-ons/webextensions/interact_with_the_clipboard/index.md

-
-> [!NOTE]
-> The `clipboard-write` permission name is not supported in Firefox, only Chromium browsers.
+The Clipboard API write methods {{domxref("Clipboard.readText", "navigator.clipboard.readText()")}} and {{domxref("Clipboard.writeText", "navigator.clipboard.writeText()")}} write arbitrary content to the clipboard. The methods are available from a secure context after the extension's user has performed {{Glossary("Transient Activation","transient activation")}}. However, with the [`"clipboardWrite"` permission](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/manifest.json/permissions#clipboardwrite) the methods are available without transient activation.


readText -> write.

available -> rephrased, because "methods are available" could imply that the API method is missing if the conditions have not been met. However, the methods are always there, they just reject if the requirements have not been met.

Suggested change

The Clipboard API write methods {{domxref("Clipboard.readText", "navigator.clipboard.readText()")}} and {{domxref("Clipboard.writeText", "navigator.clipboard.writeText()")}} write arbitrary content to the clipboard. The methods are available from a secure context after the extension's user has performed {{Glossary("Transient Activation","transient activation")}}. However, with the [`"clipboardWrite"` permission](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/manifest.json/permissions#clipboardwrite) the methods are available without transient activation.

The Clipboard API methods {{domxref("Clipboard.write", "navigator.clipboard.write()")}} and {{domxref("Clipboard.writeText", "navigator.clipboard.writeText()")}} write arbitrary content to the clipboard. The methods are available from a secure context, but are only functional after the extension's user has performed {{Glossary("Transient Activation","transient activation")}}. However, with the [`"clipboardWrite"` permission](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/manifest.json/permissions#clipboardwrite) transient activation is not required.

Please apply a similar edit to the other section.

Rob--W · 2025-12-30T17:22:19Z

files/en-us/mozilla/add-ons/webextensions/interact_with_the_clipboard/index.md

 }
 ```

-### Using execCommand()


Could you restore the full examples here? They are more helpful than the replacements that you added. The original explanation is more tutorial-like and a walkthrough with all relevant details (including a highlight of the difference of running with and without user interaction).

And although execCommand has been deprecated, I do not see it going away realistically, due to its long history, prevalent use, and supporting capabilities that are not available in the clipboard API.

For that reason, instead of rewriting the example, I'd suggest to restore the execCommand examples.

Rob--W · 2025-12-30T17:24:03Z

files/en-us/mozilla/firefox/releases/147/index.md


 ## Changes for add-on developers

+- When using [navigator.clipboard.readText()](/en-US/docs/Web/API/Clipboard/readText) or [navigator.clipboard.read()](/en-US/docs/Web/API/Clipboard/read) without the `clipboardRead` permission, a clipboard paste button is displayed to obtain user confirmation. If the extension has `clipboardRead` permission, it reads the clipboard data without user confirmation. For more information on working with the clipboard in extensions, see [Interact with the clipboard](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Interact_with_the_clipboard). ([Firefox bug 1773681](https://bugzil.la/1773681))


Suggested change

- When using [navigator.clipboard.readText()](/en-US/docs/Web/API/Clipboard/readText) or [navigator.clipboard.read()](/en-US/docs/Web/API/Clipboard/read) without the `clipboardRead` permission, a clipboard paste button is displayed to obtain user confirmation. If the extension has `clipboardRead` permission, it reads the clipboard data without user confirmation. For more information on working with the clipboard in extensions, see [Interact with the clipboard](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Interact_with_the_clipboard). ([Firefox bug 1773681](https://bugzil.la/1773681))

- When using [navigator.clipboard.readText()](/en-US/docs/Web/API/Clipboard/readText) or [navigator.clipboard.read()](/en-US/docs/Web/API/Clipboard/read) without the `clipboardRead` permission, a clipboard paste button is displayed to obtain user confirmation. If the extension has `clipboardRead` permission, it continues to read the clipboard data without user confirmation, as before. For more information on working with the clipboard in extensions, see [Interact with the clipboard](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Interact_with_the_clipboard). ([Firefox bug 1773681](https://bugzil.la/1773681))

…ance and add additional compatibility details.

files/en-us/mozilla/add-ons/webextensions/interact_with_the_clipboard/index.md

Rob--W · 2026-01-02T17:05:14Z

files/en-us/mozilla/add-ons/webextensions/manifest.json/permissions/index.md

+Two permissions enable an extension to interact with the clipboard:

 - `clipboardWrite`
-  - : Write to the clipboard using {{DOMxRef("Clipboard.write()")}}, {{DOMxRef("Clipboard.writeText()")}}, `document.execCommand("copy")` or `document.execCommand("cut")`


Keep mention of execCommand. The permissions still unlock functionality on these APIs.

github-actions · 2026-01-02T17:54:50Z

This pull request has merge conflicts that must be resolved before it can be merged.

…or.clipboard.readText()

files/en-us/mozilla/add-ons/webextensions/interact_with_the_clipboard/index.md

Rob--W · 2026-01-21T14:18:16Z

@rebloor Please see my latest comments (and also the ones from the round before that).

Also note that I corrected a mistake from before, I previously stated that Chrome does not support clipboardWrite/clipboardRead in content scripts. That was an error on my part, I have edited my previous comment (#42263 (review)) and added suggested edits to correct the pending changes in the docs.

Co-authored-by: Rob Wu <rob@robwu.nl>

files/en-us/mozilla/add-ons/webextensions/interact_with_the_clipboard/index.md

Co-authored-by: github-actions[bot] <41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

rebloor · 2026-01-21T16:06:25Z

@Rob--W apologies for missing some of your earlier comments. I believe everything should be addressed now.

Rob--W · 2026-01-27T02:44:07Z

files/en-us/web/api/clipboard_api/index.md

 - The `clipboard-read` and `clipboard-write` permissions are not supported (and not planned to be supported) by Firefox or Safari.

-Firefox [Web Extensions](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Interact_with_the_clipboard):
+Firefox [web extensions](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Interact_with_the_clipboard):


The name is WebExtensions, with those capitals and no spaces.

I would say it's “Web Extensions” when we're talking about API or the spec, but just “web extensions” when we're casually talking about extensions.

(no changes necessary, just sharing some thoughts)

I would say it's “Web Extensions” when we're talking about API or the spec, but just “web extensions” when we're casually talking about extensions.

Indeed. The intended guidelines are at https://wiki.mozilla.org/Add-ons/Terminology

Except for extensions, "browser extension" or simply just "extension" is the generic term. But I have seen all terms with different spacing and capitalizations used interchangeably, so unless there is a concentrated effort to review and update all mentions, I expect the flip flopping to continue.

The current phrase here is "Firefox web extension". While the target article contains Firefox specific information, it also describes Chrome's and Safari's behavior, all within the realm of browser extensions.

Rob--W

Let's get this merged quickly so that other docs (#42747) can be worked on.

files/en-us/mozilla/add-ons/webextensions/interact_with_the_clipboard/index.md

…ipboard/index.md

Bug-1773681 Showing Paste button for navigator.clipboard.readText()

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Bug-1773681 updated navigator.clipboard read and write notes mdn/browser-compat-data#28587

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Additional note on Chrome behavior

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…d.readText()' of ssh://github.com/rebloor/content into Bug-1773681-Showing-Paste-button-for-navigator.clipboard.readText()

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Various updates based on feedback, mainly to restore execCommand guid…

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[WebAPI] Expose execCommand("paste") with a pop-up menu to web content #42747

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		## Changes for add-on developers

		- When using [navigator.clipboard.readText()](/en-US/docs/Web/API/Clipboard/readText) or [navigator.clipboard.read()](/en-US/docs/Web/API/Clipboard/read) without the `clipboardRead` permission, a clipboard paste button is displayed to obtain user confirmation. If the extension has `clipboardRead` permission, it reads the clipboard data without user confirmation. For more information on working with the clipboard in extensions, see [Interact with the clipboard](/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Interact_with_the_clipboard). ([Firefox bug 1773681](https://bugzil.la/1773681))

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