How to copy a variable into the clipboard

Question

How do I copy a variable into the clipboard?

It always return:

Uncaught TypeError: copyText.select is not a function

Code

function copy() {
    var allDesCode2 = document.getElementsByClassName("desCode2");
    var copyText = "ABC";
    for(var i=0; i<allDesCode2.length; i++) {
        copyText += allDesCode2[i].innerHTML;
    }
    copyText.select();
    document.execCommand("copy");
}

`.select()` is a `HTMLInputElement` method but you are using it on `String`. See [this question](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/400212/how-do-i-copy-to-the-clipboard-in-javascript?rq=1) to copy to clipboard. — yqlim, Mar 15 '19 at 07:26
Possible duplicate of [How do I copy to the clipboard in JavaScript?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/400212/how-do-i-copy-to-the-clipboard-in-javascript) — yqlim, Mar 15 '19 at 07:27

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 07 '19 at 08:17

The copy() function below can help to copy a string from a variable. You can use this method in pure JavaScript without the help of any libraries, such as jQuery.

function copy() {

    var copyText = "Hooray ! I will be copied";
    var el = document.createElement('textarea');
    el.value = copyText;
    el.setAttribute('readonly', '');
    el.style = {
        position: 'absolute',
        left: '-9999px'
    };
    document.body.appendChild(el);
    el.select();
    document.execCommand('copy');
    document.body.removeChild(el);
}

<button onclick="copy()">Copy</button>

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 07 '19 at 08:18

0

I assume you were using this article as a reference. But in this example .select() was used on <input> element, and you're trying to execute this method on a variable.

You can look at this question (your question is a possible duplicate of this). It has a plenty of useful answers which will help you.

edited Jun 07 '19 at 08:18

Peter Mortensen

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answered Mar 15 '19 at 07:28

flppv

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score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 07 '19 at 08:22

You just try to select text without any input. That's mistake one. Also I just read the copy event must be inside the click event (maybe there are more events to copy - reference).

I attached the copy function on your div, put its HTML content into the input, and then copy it.

function copy() {
  var allDesCode2 = document.getElementsByClassName("desCode2");
  var copyText = "ABC";
  for (var i = 0; i < allDesCode2.length; i++) {
    copyText += allDesCode2[i].innerHTML;
  }
  $('input').val(copyText).select();
  document.execCommand('copy');
}
$('.desCode2').on('click', copy);

<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<div class="desCode2">123123123123</div>
<input>

You should take the idea. This code structure is not so good just take the idea you know the drill — Munkhdelger Tumenbayar, Mar 15 '19 at 07:34

How to copy a variable into the clipboard

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3 Answers3

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