clipboard

Dictionary: clip·board (klĭp'bôrd', -bōrd') pronunciation

A small writing board with a spring clip at the top for holding papers or a writing pad.
Computer Science. A file or an area in memory where cut or copied text and graphics can be temporarily stored before being moved to another location.

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Computer Desktop Encyclopedia: clipboard

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A reserved section of memory that is used as a temporary holding area for data that is copied or moved from one application to another using the copy and paste and cut and paste (move) menu options. Each time you transfer something into the clipboard, the previous contents are deleted. Although there are clipboard viewers that let you view the clipboard's current contents, they are seldom used. The clipboard serves as a behind-the-scenes function, holding its contents for pasting (inserting) into another application. See copy and paste and cut and paste.

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Business Dictionary: Clipboard

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A computer holding area that temporarily stores information cut or copied from a document. Both Macintosh and Windows operating systems support this feature.

Wikipedia: Clipboard

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This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

For the clipboard used in software, see Clipboard (software).

A wooden clipboard

A clipboard is a thin board that is typically slightly larger than a pad of standard sheets of paper, with a large (typically metal) clip at the top. It is used to rigidly support the pad of paper with one hand, while writing on it with the other. Clipboards are typically used in situations where one is not assured of finding good writing surfaces. Another use that was typical before the era of personal computers (which brought about word processing and computer graphics) was to hold pieces of text and art that had been clipped with scissors from one sheet of paper to be pasted with paste onto another sheet. This use provided the analogy and terminology for computer clipboards.

Clipboards can be made of many things. Most common, inexpensive clipboards are Masonite or particleboard. Additional materials include aluminum, steel, acrylic, and even circuit boards.

Police clipboards

A police clipboard

Many police officers carry clipboards. Police clipboards are designed for constant use, and have one or two compartments designed for filing documents and reports while in transit.

		Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
		Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. THIS COPYRIGHTED DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2009 Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Business Dictionary. Dictionary of Business Terms. Copyright © 2000 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Clipboard". Read more
		Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Read more

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clipboard

Police clipboards

See also