diff --git a/example/c-vt-paste/README.md b/example/c-vt-paste/README.md
index 377cd3c3b..4db5297a8 100644
--- a/example/c-vt-paste/README.md
+++ b/example/c-vt-paste/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-# Example: `ghostty-vt` Paste Utilities
+# Example: `ghostty-vt` Paste
 
-This contains a simple example of how to use the `ghostty-vt` paste
-utilities to check if paste data is safe and encode it for terminal input.
+This contains a simple example of how to paste into a `ghostty-vt`
+terminal with `ghostty_terminal_paste`: plain and bracketed (mode 2004)
+text pastes, the unsafe-paste confirmation flow, and Kitty clipboard
+protocol paste events (mode 5522) including the program's follow-up
+clipboard read. It also shows the terminal-free building blocks for
+checking paste safety and encoding paste data.
 
 This uses a `build.zig` and `Zig` to build the C program so that we
 can reuse a lot of our build logic and depend directly on our source
diff --git a/example/c-vt-paste/src/main.c b/example/c-vt-paste/src/main.c
index e6e4b3d61..64799f10b 100644
--- a/example/c-vt-paste/src/main.c
+++ b/example/c-vt-paste/src/main.c
@@ -1,7 +1,130 @@
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <ghostty/vt.h>
 
+#define GS(s) ((GhosttyString){.ptr = (const uint8_t*)(s), .len = sizeof(s) - 1})
+
+// Print bytes destined for the pty with control characters made visible.
+static void print_escaped(const uint8_t* data, size_t len) {
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+    switch (data[i]) {
+    case 0x1b: printf("ESC"); break;
+    case '\r': printf("\\r"); break;
+    case '\n': printf("\\n"); break;
+    default: putchar(data[i]); break;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// The base64 password of the last paste event, captured from the OK
+// packet so the example can play the program's side of the protocol.
+static char event_pw[128];
+
+// Everything the terminal writes to the running program: the pasted
+// text, or the paste event packets when mode 5522 is enabled.
+static void on_write_pty(GhosttyTerminal terminal,
+                         void* userdata,
+                         const uint8_t* data,
+                         size_t len) {
+  (void)terminal;
+  (void)userdata;
+  printf("  -> pty (%zu bytes): ", len);
+  print_escaped(data, len);
+  printf("\n");
+
+  // A paste event's OK packet: OSC 5522 ; type=read:status=OK:pw=<b64> ST
+  const char* prefix = "\x1b]5522;type=read:status=OK:pw=";
+  size_t prefix_len = strlen(prefix);
+  if (len > prefix_len && memcmp(data, prefix, prefix_len) == 0) {
+    size_t end = prefix_len;
+    while (end < len && data[end] != 0x1b) end++;
+    size_t pw_len = end - prefix_len;
+    if (pw_len < sizeof(event_pw)) {
+      memcpy(event_pw, data + prefix_len, pw_len);
+      event_pw[pw_len] = 0;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// Serves clipboard reads. After a paste event the program's read arrives
+// with `granted` set, because it carries the event's one-time password,
+// so the embedder skips its permission prompt.
+static void on_clipboard_read(GhosttyTerminal terminal,
+                              void* userdata,
+                              const GhosttyClipboardRead* read) {
+  (void)terminal;
+  (void)userdata;
+  printf("  clipboard read: name=\"");
+  fwrite(read->name.ptr, 1, read->name.len, stdout);
+  printf("\" granted=%s\n", read->granted ? "yes (no prompt needed)" : "no");
+
+  const char* text = "hello from the clipboard";
+  GhosttyClipboardContent content = {
+      .mime = GS("text/plain"),
+      .data = {.ptr = (const uint8_t*)text, .len = strlen(text)},
+  };
+  GhosttyClipboardReadReply reply = {
+      .size = sizeof(reply),
+      .result = GHOSTTY_CLIPBOARD_READ_RESULT_SUCCESS,
+      .contents = &content,
+      .contents_len = 1,
+      .available = NULL,
+      .available_len = 0,
+      .remember = false,
+  };
+  read->reply(read, &reply);
+}
+
+// A real embedder would show a dialog here.
+static bool confirm_with_user(void) {
+  printf("  paste could inject commands; user confirmed\n");
+  return true;
+}
+
+//! [terminal-paste]
+// Paste whatever the clipboard holds. The terminal applies its own
+// state: bracketed paste framing (mode 2004) or a Kitty paste event
+// (mode 5522) instead of the text.
+static void paste_clipboard(GhosttyTerminal terminal, const char* text) {
+  GhosttyClipboardContent contents[] = {
+      // The first text representation is what a text paste writes.
+      {.mime = GS("text/plain"),
+       .data = {.ptr = (const uint8_t*)text, .len = strlen(text)}},
+      // Listed on a paste event, never written, so no data is needed.
+      {.mime = GS("image/png"), .data = {.ptr = NULL, .len = 0}},
+  };
+  GhosttyPaste paste = {
+      .size = sizeof(paste),
+      .location = GHOSTTY_CLIPBOARD_LOCATION_STANDARD,
+      .source = GHOSTTY_PASTE_SOURCE_CLIPBOARD,
+      .contents = contents,
+      .contents_len = sizeof(contents) / sizeof(contents[0]),
+      .allow_unsafe = false,
+  };
+
+  bool written = false;
+  GhosttyResult result = ghostty_terminal_paste(terminal, &paste, &written);
+  if (result == GHOSTTY_REJECTED) {
+    // The text could inject commands (e.g. a newline outside of a
+    // bracketed paste). Nothing was written; ask, then retry.
+    if (!confirm_with_user()) return;
+    paste.allow_unsafe = true;
+    result = ghostty_terminal_paste(terminal, &paste, &written);
+  }
+  if (result != GHOSTTY_SUCCESS) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "paste failed: %d\n", (int)result);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Whether the pty got the text or a paste event depends on the
+  // terminal's modes; either way it went through write_pty above.
+  printf("  %s\n", written ? "written" : "nothing to paste");
+}
+//! [terminal-paste]
+
 //! [paste-safety]
 void safety_example() {
   const char* safe_data = "hello world";
@@ -29,27 +152,89 @@ void encode_example() {
 
   if (result == GHOSTTY_SUCCESS) {
     printf("Encoded %zu bytes: ", written);
-    fwrite(buf, 1, written, stdout);
+    print_escaped((const uint8_t*)buf, written);
     printf("\n");
   }
 }
 //! [paste-encode]
 
+static void vt_write(GhosttyTerminal terminal, const char* seq) {
+  ghostty_terminal_vt_write(terminal, (const uint8_t*)seq, strlen(seq));
+}
+
 int main() {
+  GhosttyTerminal terminal = NULL;
+  if (ghostty_terminal_new(NULL, &terminal, 80, 24) != GHOSTTY_SUCCESS) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "Failed to create terminal\n");
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  // Pasted bytes and paste events go to write_pty. Serving clipboard
+  // reads is what lets the terminal send paste events at all: without
+  // this callback the program could never read the clipboard, so pastes
+  // stay text even when mode 5522 is enabled.
+  ghostty_terminal_set(terminal, GHOSTTY_TERMINAL_OPT_WRITE_PTY,
+                       (const void*)on_write_pty);
+  ghostty_terminal_set(terminal, GHOSTTY_TERMINAL_OPT_CLIPBOARD_READ,
+                       (const void*)on_clipboard_read);
+
+  printf("Plain paste:\n");
+  paste_clipboard(terminal, "hello world");
+
+  printf("Paste with a newline (refused, then confirmed):\n");
+  paste_clipboard(terminal, "echo hi\n");
+
+  // The program enables bracketed paste: newlines are safe inside the
+  // frame and are preserved.
+  printf("Bracketed paste (mode 2004):\n");
+  vt_write(terminal, "\x1b[?2004h");
+  paste_clipboard(terminal, "line one\nline two");
+
+  // The program enables paste events: the clipboard's MIME types are
+  // listed with a one-time password instead of writing the data.
+  printf("Paste event (mode 5522):\n");
+  vt_write(terminal, "\x1b[?5522h");
+  paste_clipboard(terminal, "hello world");
+
+  // Play the program's side: read the clipboard with the password from
+  // the event. The read arrives granted and the data is served through
+  // write_pty as base64 without any permission prompt.
+  if (event_pw[0] != 0) {
+    printf("Program reads with the event password:\n");
+    char read_seq[256];
+    snprintf(read_seq, sizeof(read_seq),
+             "\x1b]5522;type=read:pw=%s:name=UGFzdGUgZXZlbnQ=;dGV4dC9wbGFpbg==\x1b\\",
+             event_pw);
+    vt_write(terminal, read_seq);
+  }
+
+  // Text inserted by other means (IME, drag and drop) is never an event.
+  printf("IME text with mode 5522 enabled:\n");
+  {
+    const char* text = "committed";
+    GhosttyClipboardContent content = {
+        .mime = GS("text/plain"),
+        .data = {.ptr = (const uint8_t*)text, .len = strlen(text)},
+    };
+    GhosttyPaste paste = {
+        .size = sizeof(paste),
+        .location = GHOSTTY_CLIPBOARD_LOCATION_STANDARD,
+        .source = GHOSTTY_PASTE_SOURCE_TEXT,
+        .contents = &content,
+        .contents_len = 1,
+        .allow_unsafe = true,
+    };
+    bool written = false;
+    if (ghostty_terminal_paste(terminal, &paste, &written) == GHOSTTY_SUCCESS &&
+        written) {
+      printf("  written\n");
+    }
+  }
+
+  ghostty_terminal_free(terminal);
+
+  printf("\nTerminal-free building blocks:\n");
   safety_example();
-
-  // Test unsafe paste data with bracketed paste end sequence
-  const char *unsafe_escape = "evil\x1b[201~code";
-  if (!ghostty_paste_is_safe(unsafe_escape, strlen(unsafe_escape))) {
-    printf("Data with escape sequence is UNSAFE\n");
-  }
-
-  // Test empty data
-  const char *empty_data = "";
-  if (ghostty_paste_is_safe(empty_data, 0)) {
-    printf("Empty data is safe\n");
-  }
-
   encode_example();
 
   return 0;
diff --git a/include/ghostty/vt.h b/include/ghostty/vt.h
index 7519a3f25..57f0a0e65 100644
--- a/include/ghostty/vt.h
+++ b/include/ghostty/vt.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
  * - @ref snapshot "Terminal Snapshot" - Encode and incrementally restore terminal state
  * - @ref osc "OSC Parser" - Parse OSC (Operating System Command) sequences
  * - @ref sgr "SGR Parser" - Parse SGR (Select Graphic Rendition) sequences
- * - @ref paste "Paste Utilities" - Validate paste data safety
+ * - @ref paste "Paste" - Paste into a terminal, validate and encode paste data
  * - @ref unicode "Unicode Utilities" - Codepoint properties for text layout
  * - @ref build_info "Build Info" - Query compile-time build configuration
  * - @ref allocator "Memory Management" - Memory management and custom allocators
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
  * - @ref c-vt/src/main.c - OSC parser example
  * - @ref c-vt-encode-key/src/main.c - Key encoding example
  * - @ref c-vt-encode-mouse/src/main.c - Mouse encoding example
- * - @ref c-vt-paste/src/main.c - Paste safety check example
+ * - @ref c-vt-paste/src/main.c - Paste example
  * - @ref c-vt-sgr/src/main.c - SGR parser example
  * - @ref c-vt-formatter/src/main.c - Terminal formatter example
  * - @ref c-vt-grid-traverse/src/main.c - Grid traversal example using grid refs
@@ -83,8 +83,10 @@
  */
 
 /** @example c-vt-paste/src/main.c
- * This example demonstrates how to use the paste utilities to check if
- * paste data is safe before sending it to the terminal.
+ * This example demonstrates how to paste into a terminal, including the
+ * unsafe-paste confirmation flow and Kitty clipboard protocol paste events
+ * (mode 5522), as well as the terminal-free paste safety and encoding
+ * utilities.
  */
 
 /** @example c-vt-sgr/src/main.c
diff --git a/include/ghostty/vt/paste.h b/include/ghostty/vt/paste.h
index b3df5be4e..9c6774429 100644
--- a/include/ghostty/vt/paste.h
+++ b/include/ghostty/vt/paste.h
@@ -1,26 +1,57 @@
 /**
  * @file paste.h
  *
- * Paste utilities - validate and encode paste data for terminal input.
+ * Paste - paste into a terminal, and validate and encode paste data.
  */
 
 #ifndef GHOSTTY_VT_PASTE_H
 #define GHOSTTY_VT_PASTE_H
 
-/** @defgroup paste Paste Utilities
+/** @defgroup paste Paste
  *
- * Utilities for validating and encoding paste data for terminal input.
+ * Pasting into a terminal, plus the terminal-free utilities for
+ * validating and encoding paste data.
  *
- * ## Basic Usage
+ * ## Pasting into a Terminal
  *
- * Use ghostty_paste_is_safe() to check if paste data contains potentially
- * dangerous sequences before sending it to the terminal.
+ * What a paste writes to the pty depends on the terminal's state, so
+ * the recommended way to paste is ghostty_terminal_paste(). The embedder
+ * hands over what the clipboard holds as MIME-typed contents (just
+ * `text/plain` for an ordinary paste) and where it came from, and the
+ * terminal decides how its current modes apply:
  *
- * Use ghostty_paste_encode() to encode paste data for writing to the pty,
+ * - If Kitty clipboard protocol paste events (mode 5522,
+ *   GHOSTTY_MODE_PASTE_EVENTS) are enabled, the paste was user-initiated
+ *   (GHOSTTY_PASTE_SOURCE_CLIPBOARD), and a clipboard_read callback is
+ *   installed, the terminal sends the program a paste event listing the
+ *   clipboard's MIME types with a one-time password instead of the data.
+ *   The program then reads what it wants through the clipboard_read
+ *   callback, which arrives with `granted` set so no permission prompt
+ *   is needed.
+ * - Otherwise the first text representation is written: unsafe control
+ *   bytes are replaced with spaces, and it is wrapped in bracketed paste
+ *   sequences if mode 2004 (GHOSTTY_MODE_BRACKETED_PASTE) is enabled, or
+ *   has its newlines converted to carriage returns if not.
+ *
+ * Text that could inject commands (a newline when unbracketed, or the
+ * bracketed paste terminator when bracketed) is refused with
+ * GHOSTTY_REJECTED unless GhosttyPaste::allow_unsafe is set. The usual
+ * flow is to call once, confirm with the user on GHOSTTY_REJECTED, and
+ * call again with `allow_unsafe` set.
+ *
+ * Output is delivered through the write_pty callback
+ * (GHOSTTY_TERMINAL_OPT_WRITE_PTY) in a single call.
+ *
+ * @snippet c-vt-paste/src/main.c terminal-paste
+ *
+ * ## Building Blocks
+ *
+ * For embedders that encode without a terminal, ghostty_paste_is_safe()
+ * checks if paste data contains potentially dangerous sequences
+ * (conservatively, regardless of terminal state) and
+ * ghostty_paste_encode() encodes paste data for writing to the pty,
  * including bracketed paste wrapping and unsafe byte stripping.
  *
- * ## Examples
- *
  * ### Safety Check
  *
  * @snippet c-vt-paste/src/main.c paste-safety
@@ -35,11 +66,99 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
 #include <ghostty/vt/types.h>
+#include <ghostty/vt/terminal.h>
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * Why a paste happened. 
+ */
+typedef enum GHOSTTY_ENUM_TYPED {
+  /** The user pasted from a clipboard: keybind, menu, middle click. */
+  GHOSTTY_PASTE_SOURCE_CLIPBOARD = 0,
+
+  /**
+   * Text inserted some other way: IME commit, drag and drop, scripted
+   * input. Always written as text, never as a paste event, matching
+   * kitty. This is not a way to opt out of paste events; an embedder
+   * that doesn't want them doesn't install a clipboard_read callback.
+   */
+  GHOSTTY_PASTE_SOURCE_TEXT = 1,
+  GHOSTTY_PASTE_SOURCE_MAX_VALUE = GHOSTTY_ENUM_MAX_VALUE,
+} GhosttyPasteSource;
+
+/**
+ * A paste of clipboard contents into the terminal.
+ *
+ * This is a sized struct; set `size` to `sizeof(GhosttyPaste)`. The
+ * contents array and the strings it points to are borrowed only for the
+ * duration of the ghostty_terminal_paste() call.
+ */
+typedef struct {
+  /** Size of this struct in bytes. */
+  size_t size;
+
+  /**
+   * The clipboard the contents came from. Reported to the program on a
+   * paste event (the selection and primary locations are both reported
+   * as the primary selection, the protocol knows only two); no effect
+   * on a text paste.
+   */
+  GhosttyClipboardLocation location;
+
+  /** Why this paste happened. */
+  GhosttyPasteSource source;
+
+  /**
+   * Borrowed array of the representations available, in preferred
+   * order. A text paste writes the first entry with a text MIME type
+   * such as "text/plain" and ignores the rest. A paste event lists every
+   * entry's MIME type and never reads data, so non-text entries may have
+   * empty data. May be NULL when contents_len is zero.
+   */
+  const GhosttyClipboardContent* contents;
+
+  /** Number of entries in contents. */
+  size_t contents_len;
+
+  /**
+   * Write text that could inject commands. Call with false, confirm
+   * with the user on GHOSTTY_REJECTED, and call again with true.
+   */
+  bool allow_unsafe;
+} GhosttyPaste;
+
+/**
+ * Paste into the terminal according to its current state: a Kitty
+ * clipboard protocol paste event if mode 5522 is enabled and a
+ * clipboard_read callback is installed, otherwise the text framed per
+ * mode 2004. See the group documentation for the full behavior. Output
+ * goes through the write_pty callback in a single call. The viewport is
+ * not scrolled; that is up to the embedder, as for key input.
+ *
+ * @param terminal The terminal handle
+ * @param paste The paste request, borrowed for the duration of the call
+ * @param[out] out_written On success, whether anything was written to
+ *             the pty (the encoded text or a paste event). False means
+ *             there was nothing to paste: no non-empty text
+ *             representation. May be NULL.
+ * @return GHOSTTY_SUCCESS on success (see @p out_written);
+ *         GHOSTTY_REJECTED if the text could inject commands and
+ *         GhosttyPaste::allow_unsafe is false (nothing was written);
+ *         GHOSTTY_INVALID_VALUE for a NULL terminal or paste, or when no
+ *         write_pty callback is installed; GHOSTTY_OUT_OF_MEMORY;
+ *         GHOSTTY_IO_ERROR if there is no secure entropy source to mint
+ *         a paste event password (wasm32-freestanding without
+ *         GHOSTTY_SYS_OPT_RANDOM_SECURE set), in which case nothing was
+ *         written and no grant was recorded.
+ */
+GHOSTTY_API GhosttyResult ghostty_terminal_paste(
+    GhosttyTerminal terminal,
+    const GhosttyPaste* paste,
+    bool* out_written);
+
 /**
  * Check if paste data is safe to paste into the terminal.
  *
@@ -49,7 +168,9 @@ extern "C" {
  *   to exit bracketed paste mode and inject commands
  *
  * This check is conservative and considers data unsafe regardless of
- * current terminal state.
+ * current terminal state. ghostty_terminal_paste() applies the
+ * terminal-state-aware rule itself (newlines are safe inside a
+ * bracketed paste); use this to apply the stricter rule on top.
  *
  * @param data The paste data to check (must not be NULL)
  * @param len The length of the data in bytes
@@ -74,6 +195,9 @@ GHOSTTY_API bool ghostty_paste_is_safe(const char* data, size_t len);
  * GHOSTTY_OUT_OF_SPACE and sets the required size in @p out_written.
  * The caller can then retry with a sufficiently sized buffer.
  *
+ * This is the encoder ghostty_terminal_paste() uses for a text paste;
+ * use it directly when there is no terminal to paste into.
+ *
  * @param data The paste data to encode (modified in place, may be NULL)
  * @param data_len The length of the input data in bytes
  * @param bracketed Whether bracketed paste mode is active
diff --git a/include/ghostty/vt/terminal.h b/include/ghostty/vt/terminal.h
index b23303605..4f8999a03 100644
--- a/include/ghostty/vt/terminal.h
+++ b/include/ghostty/vt/terminal.h
@@ -724,6 +724,11 @@ struct GhosttyClipboardRead {
  * serves a request for only the targets listing (`list` with no `mimes`)
  * without prompting.
  *
+ * Installing this callback also enables Kitty paste events (mode 5522):
+ * ghostty_terminal_paste() sends the program an event instead of the text,
+ * and the program's follow-up read arrives here with `granted` set since
+ * the user already pasted. See ghostty_terminal_paste().
+ *
  * @param terminal The terminal handle
  * @param userdata The userdata pointer set via GHOSTTY_TERMINAL_OPT_USERDATA
  * @param read Borrowed clipboard read request
diff --git a/include/ghostty/vt/types.h b/include/ghostty/vt/types.h
index 87856ed01..2184ec95c 100644
--- a/include/ghostty/vt/types.h
+++ b/include/ghostty/vt/types.h
@@ -100,6 +100,12 @@ typedef enum GHOSTTY_ENUM_TYPED {
     GHOSTTY_IO_ERROR = -5,
     /** Operation failed because encoded input exceeded a configured limit */
     GHOSTTY_LIMIT_EXCEEDED = -6,
+    /**
+     * Operation was rejected by a safety check (e.g. pasted text that could
+     * inject commands). Nothing was done. Confirm with the user and retry
+     * with the operation's allow flag set.
+     */
+    GHOSTTY_REJECTED = -7,
     GHOSTTY_RESULT_MAX_VALUE = GHOSTTY_ENUM_MAX_VALUE,
 } GhosttyResult;
 
diff --git a/src/lib_vt.zig b/src/lib_vt.zig
index 53762f775..325f0e138 100644
--- a/src/lib_vt.zig
+++ b/src/lib_vt.zig
@@ -215,6 +215,7 @@ comptime {
             @export(&c.focus_encode, .{ .name = "ghostty_focus_encode" });
             @export(&c.paste_is_safe, .{ .name = "ghostty_paste_is_safe" });
             @export(&c.paste_encode, .{ .name = "ghostty_paste_encode" });
+            @export(&c.terminal_paste, .{ .name = "ghostty_terminal_paste" });
             @export(&c.mouse_event_new, .{ .name = "ghostty_mouse_event_new" });
             @export(&c.mouse_event_free, .{ .name = "ghostty_mouse_event_free" });
             @export(&c.mouse_event_set_action, .{ .name = "ghostty_mouse_event_set_action" });
diff --git a/src/terminal/c/main.zig b/src/terminal/c/main.zig
index a7b72aa05..562fe40e6 100644
--- a/src/terminal/c/main.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/c/main.zig
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ pub const mouse_encoder_encode = mouse_encode.encode;
 
 pub const paste_is_safe = paste.is_safe;
 pub const paste_encode = paste.encode;
+pub const terminal_paste = paste.terminal_paste;
 
 pub const alloc_alloc = allocator.alloc;
 pub const alloc_free = allocator.free;
diff --git a/src/terminal/c/paste.zig b/src/terminal/c/paste.zig
index bce6a5658..53d371f33 100644
--- a/src/terminal/c/paste.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/c/paste.zig
@@ -1,8 +1,84 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const lib = @import("../lib.zig");
 const paste = @import("../../input/paste.zig");
+const terminal_paste_pkg = @import("../paste.zig");
+const clipboard = @import("../clipboard.zig");
+const terminal_c = @import("terminal.zig");
+const Terminal = terminal_c.Terminal;
+const ClipboardContent = terminal_c.ClipboardContent;
+const ClipboardRead = terminal_c.ClipboardRead;
+const ClipboardReadReply = terminal_c.ClipboardReadReply;
 const Result = @import("result.zig").Result;
 
+/// Why a paste happened.
+///
+/// C: GhosttyPasteSource
+pub const Source = terminal_paste_pkg.Source;
+
+/// A paste of clipboard contents into the terminal. Sized struct.
+///
+/// C: GhosttyPaste
+pub const Request = extern struct {
+    size: usize = @sizeOf(Request),
+    location: clipboard.Location,
+    source: Source,
+    contents: ?[*]const ClipboardContent,
+    contents_len: usize,
+    allow_unsafe: bool,
+};
+
+pub fn terminal_paste(
+    terminal_: Terminal,
+    req_: ?*const Request,
+    out_written: ?*bool,
+) callconv(lib.calling_conv) Result {
+    const wrapper = terminal_ orelse return .invalid_value;
+    const req = req_ orelse return .invalid_value;
+
+    // Every field is required; a smaller size is a caller from a
+    // different ABI version than any this struct has had.
+    if (req.size < @sizeOf(Request)) return .invalid_value;
+
+    // The handler always has a write_pty trampoline that no-ops without
+    // a C callback, so the "nothing can be written" check is ours.
+    if (wrapper.effects.write_pty == null) return .invalid_value;
+
+    const c_contents: []const ClipboardContent = if (req.contents) |ptr|
+        ptr[0..req.contents_len]
+    else
+        &.{};
+
+    // A paste carries a handful of representations, so keep the common
+    // case allocation-free.
+    var sfa = std.heap.stackFallback(256, wrapper.terminal.gpa());
+    const alloc = sfa.get();
+    const contents = alloc.alloc(
+        clipboard.Content,
+        c_contents.len,
+    ) catch return .out_of_memory;
+    defer alloc.free(contents);
+    for (contents, c_contents) |*content, c_content| {
+        content.* = .{
+            .mime = c_content.mime.ptr[0..c_content.mime.len],
+            .data = c_content.data.ptr[0..c_content.data.len],
+        };
+    }
+
+    const written = wrapper.stream.handler.paste(.{
+        .location = req.location,
+        .source = req.source,
+        .contents = contents,
+        .allow_unsafe = req.allow_unsafe,
+    }) catch |err| return switch (err) {
+        error.UnsafePaste => .rejected,
+        error.NoWritePty => .invalid_value,
+        error.OutOfMemory => .out_of_memory,
+        error.EntropyUnavailable, error.Canceled => .io_error,
+    };
+    if (out_written) |ptr| ptr.* = written;
+    return .success;
+}
+
 pub fn is_safe(data: ?[*]const u8, len: usize) callconv(lib.calling_conv) bool {
     const slice: []const u8 = if (data) |v| v[0..len] else &.{};
     return paste.isSafe(slice);
@@ -127,3 +203,225 @@ test "is_safe with null empty data" {
     const testing = std.testing;
     try testing.expect(is_safe(null, 0));
 }
+
+/// Capture state for the terminal_paste tests: every pty write and the
+/// clipboard reads that follow a paste event.
+const TerminalPasteCapture = struct {
+    var written: [1024]u8 = undefined;
+    var written_len: usize = 0;
+    var write_count: usize = 0;
+    var read_count: usize = 0;
+    var last_read_granted: bool = false;
+
+    fn reset() void {
+        written_len = 0;
+        write_count = 0;
+        read_count = 0;
+        last_read_granted = false;
+    }
+
+    fn writePty(_: Terminal, _: ?*anyopaque, ptr: [*]const u8, len: usize) callconv(lib.calling_conv) void {
+        @memcpy(written[written_len..][0..len], ptr[0..len]);
+        written_len += len;
+        write_count += 1;
+    }
+
+    fn clipboardRead(_: Terminal, _: ?*anyopaque, request: *const ClipboardRead) callconv(lib.calling_conv) void {
+        read_count += 1;
+        last_read_granted = request.granted;
+        const contents = [_]ClipboardContent{.{
+            .mime = .init(@as([]const u8, "text/plain")),
+            .data = .init(@as([]const u8, "Ghostty")),
+        }};
+        request.reply(request, &.{
+            .size = @sizeOf(ClipboardReadReply),
+            .result = .success,
+            .contents = &contents,
+            .contents_len = contents.len,
+            .available = null,
+            .available_len = 0,
+            .remember = false,
+        });
+    }
+
+    fn writtenSlice() []const u8 {
+        return written[0..written_len];
+    }
+
+    /// A single text/plain request; the caller provides the content
+    /// storage since the request borrows it.
+    fn textRequest(content: *ClipboardContent, text: []const u8) Request {
+        content.* = .{
+            .mime = .init(@as([]const u8, "text/plain")),
+            .data = .init(text),
+        };
+        return .{
+            .location = .standard,
+            .source = .clipboard,
+            .contents = content[0..1],
+            .contents_len = 1,
+            .allow_unsafe = false,
+        };
+    }
+};
+
+test "terminal_paste null handling" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const S = TerminalPasteCapture;
+
+    var t: Terminal = null;
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_c.new(&lib.alloc.test_allocator, &t, 80, 24));
+    defer terminal_c.free(t);
+
+    var written: bool = true;
+    var content: ClipboardContent = undefined;
+    const req: Request = S.textRequest(&content, "hello");
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.invalid_value, terminal_paste(null, &req, &written));
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.invalid_value, terminal_paste(t, null, &written));
+    try testing.expect(written);
+
+    // A size smaller than the struct is rejected.
+    var small = req;
+    small.size = @sizeOf(usize);
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.invalid_value, terminal_paste(t, &small, &written));
+}
+
+test "terminal_paste without write_pty is invalid" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const S = TerminalPasteCapture;
+    S.reset();
+
+    var t: Terminal = null;
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_c.new(&lib.alloc.test_allocator, &t, 80, 24));
+    defer terminal_c.free(t);
+
+    var content: ClipboardContent = undefined;
+    const req: Request = S.textRequest(&content, "hello");
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.invalid_value, terminal_paste(t, &req, null));
+}
+
+test "terminal_paste text and unsafe" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const S = TerminalPasteCapture;
+    S.reset();
+
+    var t: Terminal = null;
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_c.new(&lib.alloc.test_allocator, &t, 80, 24));
+    defer terminal_c.free(t);
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_c.set(t, .write_pty, @ptrCast(&S.writePty)));
+
+    // Plain text, NULL out_written pointer is fine.
+    var content: ClipboardContent = undefined;
+    const req: Request = S.textRequest(&content, "hel\x1blo");
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_paste(t, &req, null));
+    try testing.expectEqualStrings("hel lo", S.writtenSlice());
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 1), S.write_count);
+
+    // Unsafe is refused with nothing written, then allowed.
+    S.reset();
+    var written: bool = false;
+    var unsafe_content: ClipboardContent = undefined;
+    var unsafe: Request = S.textRequest(&unsafe_content, "rm -rf /\n");
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.rejected, terminal_paste(t, &unsafe, &written));
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 0), S.write_count);
+    try testing.expect(!written);
+
+    unsafe.allow_unsafe = true;
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_paste(t, &unsafe, &written));
+    try testing.expect(written);
+    try testing.expectEqualStrings("rm -rf /\r", S.writtenSlice());
+
+    // Bracketed paste mode frames the text through the real mode path.
+    S.reset();
+    const decset = "\x1b[?2004h";
+    terminal_c.vt_write(t, decset, decset.len);
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_paste(t, &req, &written));
+    try testing.expect(written);
+    try testing.expectEqualStrings("\x1b[200~hel lo\x1b[201~", S.writtenSlice());
+
+    // No text representation writes nothing. NULL contents with a zero
+    // length is an empty list.
+    S.reset();
+    var empty_content: ClipboardContent = undefined;
+    var empty: Request = S.textRequest(&empty_content, "");
+    empty.contents = null;
+    empty.contents_len = 0;
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_paste(t, &empty, &written));
+    try testing.expect(!written);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 0), S.write_count);
+}
+
+test "terminal_paste event" {
+    const testing = std.testing;
+    const S = TerminalPasteCapture;
+    S.reset();
+
+    var t: Terminal = null;
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_c.new(&lib.alloc.test_allocator, &t, 80, 24));
+    defer terminal_c.free(t);
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_c.set(t, .write_pty, @ptrCast(&S.writePty)));
+    t.?.terminal.modes.set(.kitty_paste_events, true);
+
+    // Without a clipboard_read callback the paste stays text.
+    var written: bool = false;
+    const contents = [_]ClipboardContent{
+        .{
+            .mime = .init(@as([]const u8, "text/plain")),
+            .data = .init(@as([]const u8, "secret")),
+        },
+        .{
+            .mime = .init(@as([]const u8, "image/png")),
+            .data = .init(@as([]const u8, "")),
+        },
+    };
+    const req: Request = .{
+        .location = .primary,
+        .source = .clipboard,
+        .contents = &contents,
+        .contents_len = contents.len,
+        .allow_unsafe = false,
+    };
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_paste(t, &req, &written));
+    try testing.expect(written);
+    try testing.expectEqualStrings("secret", S.writtenSlice());
+
+    // With one, an event is sent listing every MIME type and the data
+    // is never written.
+    S.reset();
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_c.set(t, .clipboard_read, @ptrCast(&S.clipboardRead)));
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_paste(t, &req, &written));
+    try testing.expect(written);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 1), S.write_count);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 3), std.mem.count(u8, S.writtenSlice(), "\x1b]5522;"));
+    try testing.expect(std.mem.startsWith(u8, S.writtenSlice(), "\x1b]5522;type=read:status=OK:loc=primary:pw="));
+    try testing.expect(std.mem.indexOf(u8, S.writtenSlice(), "secret") == null);
+    try testing.expect(std.mem.indexOf(u8, S.writtenSlice(), ";dGV4dC9wbGFpbiBpbWFnZS9wbmcK\x1b\\") != null);
+
+    // The program's read with the event password is granted once.
+    const ok_prefix = "\x1b]5522;type=read:status=OK:loc=primary:pw=";
+    const pw_end = std.mem.indexOfPos(u8, S.writtenSlice(), ok_prefix.len, "\x1b\\").?;
+    var read_buf: [256]u8 = undefined;
+    const read = try std.fmt.bufPrint(
+        &read_buf,
+        "\x1b]5522;type=read:pw={s}:name=UGFzdGUgZXZlbnQ=;dGV4dC9wbGFpbg==\x1b\\",
+        .{S.writtenSlice()[ok_prefix.len..pw_end]},
+    );
+    S.reset();
+    terminal_c.vt_write(t, read.ptr, read.len);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 1), S.read_count);
+    try testing.expect(S.last_read_granted);
+    try testing.expect(std.mem.indexOf(u8, S.writtenSlice(), ";R2hvc3R0eQ==\x1b\\") != null);
+
+    S.reset();
+    terminal_c.vt_write(t, read.ptr, read.len);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 1), S.read_count);
+    try testing.expect(!S.last_read_granted);
+
+    // Text sources never become events.
+    S.reset();
+    var ime = req;
+    ime.source = .text;
+    try testing.expectEqual(Result.success, terminal_paste(t, &ime, &written));
+    try testing.expect(written);
+    try testing.expectEqualStrings("secret", S.writtenSlice());
+}
diff --git a/src/terminal/c/result.zig b/src/terminal/c/result.zig
index a127d4386..174e973ba 100644
--- a/src/terminal/c/result.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/c/result.zig
@@ -7,4 +7,5 @@ pub const Result = enum(c_int) {
     no_value = -4,
     io_error = -5,
     limit_exceeded = -6,
+    rejected = -7,
 };
diff --git a/src/terminal/c/types.zig b/src/terminal/c/types.zig
index 0367a35b6..933edcdcf 100644
--- a/src/terminal/c/types.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/c/types.zig
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ const formatter_pkg = @import("../formatter.zig");
 const modes_pkg = @import("../modes.zig");
 const mouse_pkg = @import("../mouse.zig");
 const page = @import("../page.zig");
+const paste_pkg = @import("../paste.zig");
 const point = @import("../point.zig");
 const Selection = @import("../Selection.zig");
 const sgr = @import("../sgr.zig");
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ const kitty_graphics = @import("kitty_graphics.zig");
 const mouse_encode = @import("mouse_encode.zig");
 const mouse_event = @import("mouse_event.zig");
 const osc = @import("osc.zig");
+const paste = @import("paste.zig");
 const render = @import("render.zig");
 const result = @import("result.zig");
 const row = @import("row.zig");
@@ -192,6 +194,7 @@ const type_decls = [_]TypeDecl{
     .initStruct("GhosttyKittyGraphicsPlacementRenderInfo", kitty_graphics.PlacementRenderInfo),
     .initStruct("GhosttyMouseEncoderSize", mouse_encode.Size),
     .initStruct("GhosttyMousePosition", mouse_event.Position),
+    .initStruct("GhosttyPaste", paste.Request),
     .initTaggedStruct("GhosttyPoint", point.Point.C, "tag", "value", .generated),
     .initStruct("GhosttyPointCoordinate", point.Coordinate),
     .initUnion("GhosttyPointValue", point.Point.CValue, point.Point.C),
@@ -272,6 +275,7 @@ const type_decls = [_]TypeDecl{
         "GHOSTTY_OSC_COMMAND_",
         "TYPE_MAX_VALUE",
     ),
+    .initEnum("GhosttyPasteSource", paste_pkg.Source, "GHOSTTY_PASTE_SOURCE_"),
     .initEnum("GhosttyPointTag", point.Tag, "GHOSTTY_POINT_TAG_"),
     .initEnum("GhosttyRenderStateCursorVisualStyle", render.CursorVisualStyle, "GHOSTTY_RENDER_STATE_CURSOR_VISUAL_STYLE_"),
     .initEnum("GhosttyRenderStateData", render.Data, "GHOSTTY_RENDER_STATE_DATA_"),