Quick macOS Tip: Create and Use Text Clippings for Productivity

A Text Clipping in macOS is a selection of text that can be dragged from an application to another location, creating a standalone file. This feature has been available since Mac OS 9 and allows users to save pieces of text for later use. To create a Text Clipping, highlight text, hold left-click, and drag it to the Desktop or an open Finder window. The highlighted text, including rich text formatting, is saved as a .textclipping file that can be renamed. The Text Clipping can be dragged into an open document, such as a Pages file, and the text will be automatically pasted. This feature can be used in various apps, including browser search engines, Mail compose windows, and Xcode projects. To view the contents of a Text Clipping, select the file and use Quick Look or double-click to view the text in a dedicated window. Text clippings can speed up repetitive tasks, such as reusing email templates and code snippets, and can be stored in a dedicated folder to avoid clutter. However, Text Clippings may not be compatible across all platforms or devices, so it's best to convert them to standard text formats for sharing. Overall, Text Clippings offer a convenient way to save and reuse pieces of text in macOS.