# RESTful web services

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/2026.3/llms.txt).

IntelliJ IDEA provides support for developing, debugging, and testing of Java web services that comply to the representational state transfer (REST) architectural pattern. This includes various assistance features for the following:

* [Jakarta RESTful Web Services](https://jakarta.ee/specifications/restful-ws/) API

* [Eclipse Jersey](https://eclipse-ee4j.github.io/jersey/) framework

Since REST is an architectural pattern, there is no definite workflow to develop RESTful web services. This section outlines some common approaches to developing REST applications in IntelliJ IDEA.

Procedure: Enable the Jakarta EE: RESTful Web Services (JAX-RS) plugin

This functionality relies on the   plugin, which  is bundled and enabled in IntelliJ IDEA   by default. If the relevant features are not available, make sure that you did not disable the plugin.

> **Note:**
> The Jakarta EE: RESTful Web Services (JAX-RS) plugin is not available in IntelliJ IDEA without the Ultimate subscription.

1. Press `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open settings and then select `Plugins`.

2. Find the Jakarta EE: RESTful Web Services (JAX-RS) plugin and click Enable.

Procedure: Developing RESTful web services

1. Create the necessary classes and methods in the RESTful web service module.

2. Configure the [artifacts](working-with-artifacts.html) to deploy.

3. [Create a run configuration](run-debug-configuration.html#createExplicitly). On the Deployment tab, specify the artifacts to deploy.

4. Deploy the web service to an HTTP server and start the server.

5. [Run](running-applications.html) the application locally or on a remote host.

6. Test the RESTful web service using the [built-in HTTP client](http-client-in-product-code-editor.html).

## See also

### Procedures

[Web services](web-services.html)

### External Links

[http://www.ics.uci.edu/~fielding/pubs/dissertation/rest_arch_style.htm](http://www.ics.uci.edu/~fielding/pubs/dissertation/rest_arch_style.htm)