From Idea to Interactive Web App: Building Custom Tools with Perplexity Labs

Imagine having the power to turn your wildest ideas for digital tools into reality—without writing a single line of code. That’s exactly what Perplexity Labs, the latest feature from Perplexity AI, makes possible. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to go from a simple prompt to a fully interactive web app—no technical background required.

What is Perplexity Labs?

Perplexity Labs is an AI-powered workspace designed for Pro subscribers (at $20/month) that transforms your ideas into functional digital projects. Whether you want a custom dashboard, a mini web app, or an interactive data explorer, Labs can do it all—automating research, coding, and design in a single environment.

Unlike traditional AI chatbots, Labs is built for project creation. It uses advanced AI models to perform multi-step research, write and execute code, visualize data, and organize all assets for you—making it a true “AI-powered workbench” for your digital ideas.

How Perplexity Labs Works

When you create a Lab, you’re not just getting an answer—you’re launching a mini project team inside your browser. Here’s what you’ll see:

Tasks: A step-by-step breakdown of how Labs is building your project.
Report: A summary of findings and recommendations.
Assets: All files—code, data, images—ready to download or use.
App: A live, interactive web app based on your prompt (if you requested one).
Sources: References to all research materials used.

Step-by-Step: Build Your Own Web App with Perplexity Labs

1. Access Perplexity Labs

Log in to your Perplexity Pro account.
Click the light bulb (💡) icon in the chatbox to switch to Labs mode.
Start a new project by entering your idea as a prompt.

Tip: If you’re not sure how to phrase your prompt, try describing what you want the app to do and who it’s for.

2. Write Your Prompt

Be specific! The clearer your instructions, the better your results. Here are some examples:

Time Zone Calculator: “Create an interactive web app that lets users compare time zones across major cities worldwide. Include a dropdown to select cities, display the current time for each, and highlight differences in hours.”
Data Explorer: “Build a web app that visualizes global climate data from the last decade. Allow users to filter by year, region, and temperature anomaly. Include interactive charts and tooltips.”
Custom Dashboard: “Design a dashboard for tracking personal fitness goals. Users should be able to input data, see trends over time, and visualize progress with charts.”

3. Submit and Let Labs Work

Once you submit your prompt, Labs will:

Research relevant data and sources.
Write code for your app (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
Generate visual assets like charts and images.
Organize all files in the Assets tab for easy access.

This process typically takes 10–30 minutes, depending on complexity.

4. Explore and Interact with Your App

When Labs finishes, you’ll see a new “App” tab. Click it to interact with your custom web app—right inside Perplexity. You can:

Test features and see how everything works.
Share the link to your app with others—no Perplexity account needed.
Download the code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to host on your own website.

5. Download and Customize

All project files are saved in the Assets tab. You can:

Download the full codebase for further customization.
Extract images or data files for use in other projects.
Export reports as PDFs or markdown files for presentations.

Real-World Examples

Here are some real projects you can build with Perplexity Labs:

Time Zone Calculator: Compare times across cities with a sleek, user-friendly interface.
Climate Data Explorer: Filter and visualize global temperature trends with interactive charts.
Personal Finance Dashboard: Track expenses, income, and savings goals with custom charts and filters.
SEO Dashboard: Monitor website performance and keyword rankings with real-time data visualizations.

Tips for Maximizing Your Results

Be Specific in Your Prompts: The more detail you provide, the better the app will match your needs.
Request Interactive Features: Ask for filters, sliders, or dropdowns to make your app more dynamic.
Download and Tweak: Use the code as a starting point for your own projects—customize and extend as you like.
Share Your App: The live app link is perfect for demos, client presentations, or team collaboration.

Why Perplexity Labs is a Game-Changer

Perplexity Labs is more than just a chatbot—it’s a full-fledged project collaborator. It automates the research, coding, and design work that would normally take days or weeks, letting you focus on your ideas instead of technical hurdles.

Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, educator, or just someone with a great idea, Labs gives you the power to build custom tools that solve real problems—fast.

Ready to Build Your Own Web App?

With Perplexity Labs, your next digital tool is just a prompt away. No coding, no headaches—just your idea, transformed into reality.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out the Perplexity Labs Project Gallery for ready-to-use prompts and examples!