In a recent discussion, Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen shed light on the intricacies of the Windows clipboard, emphasizing its design for optimal performance. Chen, known for his deep dives into Windows architecture, explained that the clipboard's asynchronous operation is a deliberate choice to prevent system slowdowns. By utilizing the
AddClipboardFormatListener function and the WM_CLIPBOARDUPDATE message, Windows ensures that clipboard changes are handled efficiently without causing performance bottlenecks. This approach contrasts with synchronous clipboard viewers, which, while capturing every change, can introduce latency and potential hangs in the system. Chen's insights highlight Microsoft's commitment to refining even the most fundamental features to enhance user experience.Source: Neowin Microsoft engineer explains how even the Windows clipboard is optimized for best performance