# Language and reference injections Language injections let you work with pieces of code in a programming language different from the main language of your file. When you inject a language (such as HTML, CSS, XML, RegExp, and so on) into a string literal, you get comprehensive coding assistance for the injected code even though it is not the main language of your project. In addition to language injections, the IDE also supports reference injections, which treat string literals as references to other entities , such as classes or files. ## Add language injections Procedure: Add a temporary language injection 1. Place the caret inside the string literal, tag, or attribute, in which you want to inject a language and press `Alt+Enter` (Windows), `⌥ ⏎` (macOS), `⌥ ⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌥ ⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Alt+Enter` (XWin), `Alt+Enter` (GNOME), `Alt+Enter` (KDE), `Alt+Enter` (Emacs), `Alt+Enter` (Sublime Text), `⌥ ⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Alt+Enter` (NetBeans), `Alt+Enter` (Visual Studio), `⌥ ⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+1` (Eclipse), `⌘ 1` (Eclipse (macOS)) (or use the intention action icon ![intention action icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app-client.expui.codeInsight.intentionBulb.svg)). 2. Select Inject language or reference and choose the language you want to inject. [Video](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/inject-html.mp4) > **Tip:** > If the Inject language or reference intention action is not available by default, go to `Settings (`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` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS))) | Editor | Intentions` and select the Inject language or reference checkbox in the Language injection section. > > > > ![Inject language or reference checkbox](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/inject_language_or_reference.png) Procedure: Add a persistent language injection Use language injection comments (annotations) to add persistent fragments of injected languages. * Add a blank line before the target string literal, and type the following comment: ```SHELL // language= ``` For example: ```JAVA public class LanguageInjections { // language=HTML String s = "

Language injections in IntelliJ IDEA

"; } ``` Another example: ```JAVA public static String jsonInjection( // language=JSON String json ){ return json = "{\"data\":\"value\"}"; } ``` For comments, use the syntax of the language you want to inject. Language IDs are generally intuitive, for example, SQL, RegExp, XML, HTML. You can also learn language IDs in settings. 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` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open settings and then select `Editor | language Injections`. Double-click an injection rule for a language; the language ID is specified in the ID field. * (Optional) Include a prefix or a suffix in your comment. ```SHELL // language= prefix= suffix= ``` This is required if: * The string is an incomplete/partial SQL statement * The string is not used directly in one of our supported calls (such as `select /where)` ## Annotating language injections You can annotate code elements, such as members and parameters, as language injections using the `@Language` annotation from the [JetBrains Annotations]() library. This gives you correct highlighting, navigation, and search in the IDE. For example, you can mark an annotation parameter as referencing a Java method: ```JAVA import org.intellij.lang.annotations.Language; // you can use @Language as a meta-annotation @Language("jvm-method-name") @interface MethodName {} @interface ComponentProperties { @MethodName String waitForMethod() default ""; } class MainComponent { @ComponentProperties(waitForMethod = "waitForExampleComponent") public ExampleComponent exampleComponent; private void waitForExampleComponent() { } } ``` > **Note:** > For full documentation on `@Language` and other JetBrains annotations, refer to the [JetBrains annotations' repository.](https://github.com/JetBrains/java-annotations/blob/master/src/jvmMain/java/org/intellij/lang/annotations/Language.java). IntelliJ IDEA then recognizes the annotated string as a method name and lets you use the [Rename](rename-refactorings.html) refactoring and other features on the annotated element. ![Rename popup renames both the target method and the annotated string](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/annotate-as-method-name.png) ## Edit injected language fragments IntelliJ IDEA allows you to edit injected language fragment in a dedicated editor. Procedure: Open the fragment editor 1. Place the caret within the injected code piece and press `Alt+Enter` (Windows), `⌥ ⏎` (macOS), `⌥ ⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌥ ⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Alt+Enter` (XWin), `Alt+Enter` (GNOME), `Alt+Enter` (KDE), `Alt+Enter` (Emacs), `Alt+Enter` (Sublime Text), `⌥ ⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Alt+Enter` (NetBeans), `Alt+Enter` (Visual Studio), `⌥ ⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+1` (Eclipse), `⌘ 1` (Eclipse (macOS)) (or use the intention action icon ![intention action icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app-client.expui.codeInsight.intentionBulb.svg)). 2. Select Edit Fragment. IntelliJ IDEA will open a dedicated editor section for editing the code with the injected language. This editor provides full coding assistance, including code completion, inspections, intention actions, and code style actions. ![Editing the injected code fragment in the dedicated editor](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/edit-injection.png) > **Note:** > When editing your code, you can see prefixes and suffixes only in the fragment editor. They are not shown in the main editor. ## Inject a reference Reference injections interpret string literals as links to other entities, such as classes, methods, fields, or files. For example, a string like `com.example.MyClass` can be resolved as a reference to a Java class, and `resources/config.json` can be treated as a reference to a file. Procedure: Add a temporary reference injection 1. Place the caret inside the string literal in which you want to inject a reference and press `Alt+Enter` (Windows), `⌥ ⏎` (macOS), `⌥ ⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌥ ⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Alt+Enter` (XWin), `Alt+Enter` (GNOME), `Alt+Enter` (KDE), `Alt+Enter` (Emacs), `Alt+Enter` (Sublime Text), `⌥ ⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Alt+Enter` (NetBeans), `Alt+Enter` (Visual Studio), `⌥ ⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+1` (Eclipse), `⌘ 1` (Eclipse (macOS)) (or use the intention action icon ![intention action icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app-client.expui.codeInsight.intentionBulb.svg)). 2. Select Inject language or reference and select an option, for example: * File Reference: adds a reference to the specified file. * JVM class name: adds a reference to the specified class. * JVM field name: adds a reference to a field. * JVM method name: adds a reference to a method. Depending on the plugins you have installed, other reference options might be available. For example, you might be able to inject an HTTP method, header, or URL reference. ![Inject a file reference](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/ij_reference_injections.png) Procedure: Add a persistent reference injection Use comments to add persistent reference injections. * Add a blank line before the target string literal and type the `// language=` comment with the necessary value. * `// language=file-reference` adds a reference to a file. * `// language=jvm-class-name` adds a reference to a class. * `// language=jvm-filed-name` adds a reference to a field. * `// language=jvm-method-name` adds a reference to a method. Examples: ```JAVA public class FileReference { public static void main(String[] args) { // language=file-reference printFilePath("src/main/resources/config.properties"); } } ``` or ```JAVA public class ClassReference { public static void main(String[] args) { //language=jvm-class-name String className = "java.util.ArrayList"; } } ``` > **Tip:** > You can also use [annotations](#language-injections) for persistent reference injections, for example `@Language ("jvm-class-name")`. ## Cancel injections Procedure: Cancel a persistent language injection To cancel a language injection, delete the comment (annotation) you used to introduce it. Procedure: Cancel a temporary language injection 1. Place the caret at the code fragment and press `Alt+Enter` (Windows), `⌥ ⏎` (macOS), `⌥ ⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌥ ⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Alt+Enter` (XWin), `Alt+Enter` (GNOME), `Alt+Enter` (KDE), `Alt+Enter` (Emacs), `Alt+Enter` (Sublime Text), `⌥ ⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Alt+Enter` (NetBeans), `Alt+Enter` (Visual Studio), `⌥ ⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+1` (Eclipse), `⌘ 1` (Eclipse (macOS)) (or use the intention action icon ![the intention action button](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app-client.expui.codeInsight.intentionBulb.svg)). 2. Select Uninject language or reference. Procedure: Disable the intention action bulb icon Do the following to hide the intention action icon ![Intention action icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app-client.expui.codeInsight.intentionBulb.svg) in the editor: 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` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open settings and then select `Editor | General | Appearance`. 2. Clear the Show intention bulb checkbox. 3. Apply the changes and close the dialog. ## Configure rules for automatic injections In IntelliJ IDEA, there is a set of predefined rules according to which the IDE automatically injects languages in certain places in your code. You can configure language injection rules on the Editor | Language Injections settings page `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` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) . ![Language injections settings](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/injections-settings.png) All pre-defined injection rules are configured for the Built-in scope. In other words, they are global (and therefore available in all IntelliJ IDEA projects). Custom rules can be configured for the IDE or for one project only. To change the scope of custom injections, use the ![the Move to Project/IDE scope button](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.import.svg). To share a custom rule through VCS, move it to the Project scope using the corresponding option on the toolbar. By doing so, you will create a new file in the `.idea` directory named `IntelliLang.xml` with your custom rules that you can place under version control. If you don’t use a VCS, you can share your rules by exporting them to XML files (click ![Export](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.export.svg) on the toolbar) and then importing them to another project. To configure custom injection rules, click ![the Add button](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.add.svg) to add a new rule, or copy a predefined rule and change its settings. ## See also ### Reference [Language Injections](language-injections-settings.html)