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When the user clicks on the [Share] link under the post (either a question or an answer), a popup window appears with the link automatically highlighted. I propose that the link should be automatically highlighted and copied to the clipboard.

The most frequent action after clicking on [Share] is to copy and paste the link somewhere. I suggest to simplify the process. The link is already automatically highlighted. It is true that it is easy to copy: just use ctrl+c or cmd+c or click on [Copy link]. We can save an extra step, and just copy it for the user.

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    If we go this route, we'd have to make it optional. Otherwise people are going to be surprised by having their clipboard overwritten when they didn't intend to.
    – Mast
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 18:31
  • That would require a profile setting.
    – Mast
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 18:31
  • @Mast: Perhaps change the text [Share] to [Copy link]?
    – Timur Shtatland
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 18:38
  • While that could work, if the company goes that route the Facebook and Twitter buttons become out of place.
    – Mast
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 18:45
  • @Mast: Maybe the text should be [Copy link/Share]? Then we can still have the Facebook and Twitter buttons in the window that opens.
    – Timur Shtatland
    Commented Jun 17, 2022 at 18:59
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    I think that would unnecessarily take up space. Also, I wouldn't want to copy the URL text automatically if I just want to use the Twitter/Facebook buttons. There are many edge cases where your suggestion would not be preferable, so the UI is fine as it is.
    – Justin
    Commented Jun 18, 2022 at 7:18
  • Don't security concerns prevent access to the clipboard in web browsers?
    – This_is_NOT_a_forum
    Commented Jun 18, 2022 at 8:54
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    @This_is_NOT_a_forum Reading from the clipboard is a security concern, but a script can easily write to the clipboard, eg javascript:(()=>{navigator.clipboard.writeText('Test')})()
    – PM 2Ring
    Commented Jun 18, 2022 at 12:10
  • You can also just right-click the Share link and copy the link directly from there.
    – Meta Andrew T.
    Commented Jun 19, 2022 at 16:40

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No. That is a bad idea.

Personally, many times I browse Stack Exchange sites while at work, and in the middle of doing stuff, which might also include copy&paste of work-related things. I do not want to lose what I copied just because I clicked "share" link. That is simply bad.

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