diff --git a/python/gui/qgisinterface.sip b/python/gui/qgisinterface.sip
index 96c12660690..ac3d51d980a 100644
--- a/python/gui/qgisinterface.sip
+++ b/python/gui/qgisinterface.sip
@@ -767,6 +767,18 @@ Start a blank project
  :rtype: bool
 %End
 
+    virtual void copySelectionToClipboard( QgsMapLayer * ) = 0;
+%Docstring
+ Copy selected features from the layer to clipboard
+.. versionadded:: 3.0
+%End
+
+    virtual void pasteFromClipboard( QgsMapLayer * ) = 0;
+%Docstring
+ Paste features from clipboard to the layer
+.. versionadded:: 3.0
+%End
+
     virtual int addToolBarIcon( QAction *qAction ) = 0;
 %Docstring
 Add an icon to the plugins toolbar
diff --git a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
index c682597c058..a551dd02edf 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
@@ -1822,9 +1822,9 @@ void QgisApp::createActions()
 
   connect( mActionUndo, &QAction::triggered, mUndoWidget, &QgsUndoWidget::undo );
   connect( mActionRedo, &QAction::triggered, mUndoWidget, &QgsUndoWidget::redo );
-  connect( mActionCutFeatures, &QAction::triggered, this, [ = ] { editCut(); } );
-  connect( mActionCopyFeatures, &QAction::triggered, this, [ = ] { editCopy(); } );
-  connect( mActionPasteFeatures, &QAction::triggered, this, [ = ] { editPaste(); } );
+  connect( mActionCutFeatures, &QAction::triggered, this, [ = ] { cutSelectionToClipboard(); } );
+  connect( mActionCopyFeatures, &QAction::triggered, this, [ = ] { copySelectionToClipboard(); } );
+  connect( mActionPasteFeatures, &QAction::triggered, this, [ = ] { pasteFromClipboard(); } );
   connect( mActionPasteAsNewVector, &QAction::triggered, this, &QgisApp::pasteAsNewVector );
   connect( mActionPasteAsNewMemoryVector, &QAction::triggered, this, [ = ] { pasteAsNewMemoryVector(); } );
   connect( mActionCopyStyle, &QAction::triggered, this, [ = ] { copyStyle(); } );
@@ -8084,7 +8084,7 @@ void QgisApp::addPart()
 }
 
 
-void QgisApp::editCut( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection )
+void QgisApp::cutSelectionToClipboard( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection )
 {
   // Test for feature support in this layer
   QgsVectorLayer *selectionVectorLayer = qobject_cast<QgsVectorLayer *>( layerContainingSelection ? layerContainingSelection : activeLayer() );
@@ -8098,7 +8098,7 @@ void QgisApp::editCut( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection )
   selectionVectorLayer->endEditCommand();
 }
 
-void QgisApp::editCopy( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection )
+void QgisApp::copySelectionToClipboard( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection )
 {
   QgsVectorLayer *selectionVectorLayer = qobject_cast<QgsVectorLayer *>( layerContainingSelection ? layerContainingSelection : activeLayer() );
   if ( !selectionVectorLayer )
@@ -8113,7 +8113,7 @@ void QgisApp::clipboardChanged()
   activateDeactivateLayerRelatedActions( activeLayer() );
 }
 
-void QgisApp::editPaste( QgsMapLayer *destinationLayer )
+void QgisApp::pasteFromClipboard( QgsMapLayer *destinationLayer )
 {
   QgsVectorLayer *pasteVectorLayer = qobject_cast<QgsVectorLayer *>( destinationLayer ? destinationLayer : activeLayer() );
   if ( !pasteVectorLayer )
diff --git a/src/app/qgisapp.h b/src/app/qgisapp.h
index a03f3c19c05..f7353bbdd05 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisapp.h
+++ b/src/app/qgisapp.h
@@ -745,21 +745,21 @@ class APP_EXPORT QgisApp : public QMainWindow, private Ui::MainWindow
        \param layerContainingSelection  The layer that the selection will be taken from
                                         (defaults to the active layer on the legend)
      */
-    void editCut( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection = nullptr );
+    void cutSelectionToClipboard( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection = nullptr );
     //! copies selected features on the active layer to the clipboard
 
     /**
        \param layerContainingSelection  The layer that the selection will be taken from
                                         (defaults to the active layer on the legend)
      */
-    void editCopy( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection = nullptr );
+    void copySelectionToClipboard( QgsMapLayer *layerContainingSelection = nullptr );
     //! copies features on the clipboard to the active layer
 
     /**
        \param destinationLayer  The layer that the clipboard will be pasted to
                                 (defaults to the active layer on the legend)
      */
-    void editPaste( QgsMapLayer *destinationLayer = nullptr );
+    void pasteFromClipboard( QgsMapLayer *destinationLayer = nullptr );
     //! copies features on the clipboard to a new vector layer
     void pasteAsNewVector();
     //! copies features on the clipboard to a new memory vector layer
diff --git a/src/app/qgisappinterface.cpp b/src/app/qgisappinterface.cpp
index 7165924320f..88647583336 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisappinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgisappinterface.cpp
@@ -186,6 +186,16 @@ bool QgisAppInterface::setActiveLayer( QgsMapLayer *layer )
   return qgis->setActiveLayer( layer );
 }
 
+void QgisAppInterface::copySelectionToClipboard( QgsMapLayer *layer )
+{
+  return qgis->copySelectionToClipboard( layer );
+}
+
+void QgisAppInterface::pasteFromClipboard( QgsMapLayer *layer )
+{
+  return qgis->pasteFromClipboard( layer );
+}
+
 void QgisAppInterface::addPluginToMenu( const QString &name, QAction *action )
 {
   qgis->addPluginToMenu( name, action );
diff --git a/src/app/qgisappinterface.h b/src/app/qgisappinterface.h
index ffef99c0c24..b9d7d65617d 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisappinterface.h
+++ b/src/app/qgisappinterface.h
@@ -96,6 +96,18 @@ class APP_EXPORT QgisAppInterface : public QgisInterface
     //! set the active layer (layer selected in the legend)
     bool setActiveLayer( QgsMapLayer *layer ) override;
 
+    /**
+     * Copy selected features from the layer to clipboard
+     * \since QGIS 3.0
+     */
+    virtual void copySelectionToClipboard( QgsMapLayer *layer ) override;
+
+    /**
+     * Paste features from clipboard to the layer
+     * \since QGIS 3.0
+     */
+    virtual void pasteFromClipboard( QgsMapLayer *layer ) override;
+
     //! Add an icon to the plugins toolbar
     int addToolBarIcon( QAction *qAction ) override;
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsattributetabledialog.cpp b/src/app/qgsattributetabledialog.cpp
index 6e6c221281f..f6f5bb21089 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsattributetabledialog.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsattributetabledialog.cpp
@@ -730,12 +730,12 @@ void QgsAttributeTableDialog::mActionExpressionSelect_triggered()
 
 void QgsAttributeTableDialog::mActionCopySelectedRows_triggered()
 {
-  QgisApp::instance()->editCopy( mLayer );
+  QgisApp::instance()->copySelectionToClipboard( mLayer );
 }
 
 void QgsAttributeTableDialog::mActionPasteFeatures_triggered()
 {
-  QgisApp::instance()->editPaste( mLayer );
+  QgisApp::instance()->pasteFromClipboard( mLayer );
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/gui/qgisinterface.h b/src/gui/qgisinterface.h
index d4a41abea86..690047ec217 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgisinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgisinterface.h
@@ -422,6 +422,18 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgisInterface : public QObject
      */
     virtual bool setActiveLayer( QgsMapLayer * ) = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * Copy selected features from the layer to clipboard
+     * \since QGIS 3.0
+     */
+    virtual void copySelectionToClipboard( QgsMapLayer * ) = 0;
+
+    /**
+     * Paste features from clipboard to the layer
+     * \since QGIS 3.0
+     */
+    virtual void pasteFromClipboard( QgsMapLayer * ) = 0;
+
     //! Add an icon to the plugins toolbar
     virtual int addToolBarIcon( QAction *qAction ) = 0;
 
diff --git a/tests/src/app/testqgisappclipboard.cpp b/tests/src/app/testqgisappclipboard.cpp
index e662339bc58..5b3b1ff4a73 100644
--- a/tests/src/app/testqgisappclipboard.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/app/testqgisappclipboard.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void TestQgisAppClipboard::copyPaste()
 
     // copy all features to clipboard
     inputLayer->selectAll();
-    mQgisApp->editCopy( inputLayer );
+    mQgisApp->copySelectionToClipboard( inputLayer );
 
     QgsFeatureList features = mQgisApp->clipboard()->copyOf();
     qDebug() << features.size() << " features copied to clipboard";