---
sourceDocument: Xanadu API Reference
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/xanadu/api-reference

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    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu API Reference

ft:clusterId :

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workflow :

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---

# Outbound REST web service

# Outbound REST web service {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Xanadu
* 
* Updated August 1, 2024
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

ServiceNow outbound REST
functionality allows you to retrieve, create, update, or delete data on a web services server that
supports the REST architecture.

A REST message can be sent by a REST workflow activity or by using the RESTMessageV2 script
API. You can run REST messages from a MID Server which allows the message to communicate with
REST providers on an internal network.

ServiceNow REST functionality is
flexible enough to accommodate many web service APIs. Be sure you are familiar with your web
service and the parameters it accepts before attempting to define a REST message in ServiceNow.
* **[REST message elements](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/bfqXQm4qoJYwdRRcHlAc0Q)**   
  An outbound REST message is composed of several elements, such as the endpoint and HTTP methods.
* **[Create a REST message](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/1hJIpeo9c9L4igtz9EDUaA)**   
  Send requests to a REST web service endpoint by creating a REST message record.
* **[Outbound REST authentication](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ZvO6i9f6G9BAI5KqBebjSw)**   
  Outbound REST messages support multiple types of authentication.
* **[Variable substitution in outbound REST messages](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/5FsfF~HUN75XQ2MfB928vg)**   
  You can use variables when creating outbound REST messages and assign values to those variables when performing a request.
* **[Scripting outbound REST](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/8vklLMz7AkddLANmTrnlCg)**   
  You can send outbound REST requests from any place in the ServiceNow AI Platform where scripting is allowed.