Gimp has a cut and copy buffer, see Cut Named and Copy Named. Objects cut or copied with those functions are available for pasting in Paste Named.

In the dialog there is a list of all available buffers. You select the buffer to past by clicking on it. When the buffer is selected you have three options to paste it Paste, Paste Into and Paste As New.

You can also manage buffers in the dialog. If you want to delete a buffer you select it and click on the Delete button. To exit the buffer with out pasting you click on Cancel. This will cancel the paste operation but it will not cancel the delete operation.

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