Overview
Code.org has launched a new and improved version of Web Lab! Students can now use Web Lab to write HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build their own web pages. This article explains what's changing, what's staying the same, and how to make the switch.
What is Web Lab?
Web Lab is a browser-based coding environment where students create multi-page websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Students can upload images, organize their projects across multiple files, and use the built-in AI Tutor to get help with learning, debugging, and writing code.
What's the difference between Web Lab (legacy) and Web Lab (new)?
| Legacy Web Lab | New Web Lab | |
| HTML, CSS support | Yes | Yes |
| JavaScript support | Not designed for it | Yes |
| Multi-file projects | Yes | Yes |
| Image uploads | Yes | Yes |
| AI Tutor | Yes | Yes — enhanced with code generation |
| Security | Standard | Stronger security protections |
The new Web Lab offers the same core experience students know, with stronger security protections and a foundation built to fully support HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — including more robust AI Tutor capabilities for learning, debugging, and code generation.
See this support article for more information on these differences.
Which courses use which version?
Web Lab (legacy) is used in versions of CS Discoveries released before 2026.
Web Lab (new) is currently used in our Intro to Web Lab tutorial. It will also be used in the following upcoming courses:
- CS Discoveries 2026 (Full Year, Collections, and Standalone Units) - releasing soon on May 22nd!
- AI Discoveries - releasing soon on May 22nd!
- AI Foundations - releasing soon on May 22nd!
What we recommend
We encourage all teachers to transition to Web Lab (new) as soon as possible. The new version is more secure, more capable, and is where future improvements will be made.
To get a get a feel for the new Web Lab, try out our newest Hour of AI tutorial, Intro to Web Lab. It's a low-barrier entry point designed to give teachers a turnkey way to expose students to the future of web development with AI — in a safe, educational environment.
To use the new Web Lab in a new project, navigate to https://studio.code.org/projects and click on the "Web Lab" tile under "Create a new project."
If you're currently mid-year on a legacy course, you can finish out the year and plan to switch next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my students' legacy Web Lab projects transfer to the new Web Lab? Legacy Web Lab projects are not automatically migrated to the new Web Lab. Students can copy files over from Legacy Web Lab to the new Web Lab to continue working on them in the new tool.
Do I need to do anything to enable the new Web Lab? No extra setup is required. The new Web Lab is automatically available when you assign a course that uses it (CS Discoveries 2026, AI Discoveries, or AI Foundations). If you want to use AI Tutor you will need to enable AI Tools for your section of students.
Is the student experience very different? The interface will feel familiar. The core experience — writing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript across multiple files — is the same. Students will notice improvements in the AI Tutor, including the ability to generate code. The inspector tool from Legacy Web Lab is not available in the new Web Lab but students can ask AI Tutor for help instead.
Where can I learn more about Web Lab? Visit code.org/tools/web-lab for an overview of the tool and its features.
Need more help?
If you have questions about switching courses or need help please contact support@code.org.