Clipboard, Tray Menus & Global Hotkeys in NativePHP



Extend Your Laravel Desktop App with Native Power Tools

When building desktop apps with NativePHP, going beyond basic windows and routes is where the real fun begins. In this article, we’ll explore how to supercharge your Laravel-powered app by working with:

  • ✅ Clipboard operations

  • ✅ System tray menus

  • ✅ Global hotkeys

These native integrations will make your app feel right at home on any desktop OS, enhancing UX and productivity.

📋 1. Using the Clipboard

The clipboard is one of the most powerful yet underused tools in desktop apps. With NativePHP, copying and pasting is just a few lines away.

✂️ Copy to Clipboard

use Native\Laravel\Facades\Clipboard;

Route::get('/copy', function () {
    Clipboard::write('Copied from Laravel!');
    return 'Text copied!';
});

📥 Read from Clipboard

Route::get('/paste', function () {
    return Clipboard::read();
});

🔐 Note: Clipboard access may be restricted by your OS depending on the app’s focus and security settings.

📌 2. Creating a Tray Menu

Tray menus allow users to access app functions from the system tray (next to the clock or taskbar). This is great for apps that run in the background or need quick access.

🔧 Define a Tray Menu

use Native\Laravel\Facades\Tray;

Tray::menu([
    Tray::label('NativePHP App'),
    Tray::separator(),
    Tray::menu('Actions', [
        Tray::item('Open App', fn () => Window::open()),
        Tray::item('Quit', fn () => app()->quit())
    ]),
]);

Tray menu items can trigger any Laravel logic — from opening windows to running custom functions or jobs.

🎹 3. Registering Global Hotkeys

Global hotkeys let your app respond to keyboard shortcuts system-wide — even when it's not in focus.

🧠 Set Up a Hotkey

use Native\Laravel\Facades\GlobalShortcut;

GlobalShortcut::register('CommandOrControl+Shift+Y', function () {
    Notification::title('Hotkey Triggered!')
        ->message('You just pressed Ctrl+Shift+Y!')
        ->show();
});

⛔ Unregister a Hotkey

GlobalShortcut::unregister('CommandOrControl+Shift+Y');

📌 Best Practices:

  • Use non-conflicting key combinations.

  • Always allow users to customize shortcuts when possible.

🧪 Testing It All Together

Combine these features for a productivity tool like a clipboard manager, quick launcher, or note-taker with keyboard controls — all from Laravel!


With Clipboard, Tray Menus, and Global Hotkeys, you're no longer limited to building standard web interfaces. NativePHP opens the door to creating polished, performant, and interactive desktop apps — all with Laravel’s elegance.