Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, and its pathogenesis has not been fully understood. Extensive dysregulation of the intestinal mucosal immune system is critical in the development and progression of IBD. T-helper (Th) 17 cells have the characteristics of plasticity. They can transdifferentiate into subpopulations with different functions in response to different factors in the surrounding environment, thus taking on different roles in regulating the intestinal immune response. In this review, we will focus on the plasticity of Th17 cells as well as the function of Th17 cells and related cytokines in IBD. We will summarize their pathogenic and protective roles in IBD under different conditions, respectively, hoping to further deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of IBD and provide ideas for the future treatment.