Most hands-on labs on Google Skills run in a dedicated, integrated environment that provides you with temporary credentials for a real cloud project. However, some labs, particularly those focused on machine learning and data science, use Google Colaboratory (Colab) to provide a rich, interactive learning experience.
What is Google Colab?
Google Colaboratory, or "Colab" for short, is a tool that lets you write and execute Python code through your browser. It's especially well-suited for machine learning, data analysis, and education. When a lab uses Colab, you will work with an interactive "notebook" file instead of the standard lab interface.
What to expect in a Colab-based lab
If your lab uses Google Colab, the experience will be different from a standard lab. Here’s what you need to know:
- The lab will direct you to the Google Colab website, which will open in a new browser tab.
- To use Colab, you must be signed in to a Google Account. If you don't have one, you can create one for free.
- You will be prompted to download a lab file with an .ipynb extension (for example, my-lab-notebook.ipynb). You will then upload this file to Colab to begin.
How to access a lab in Google Colab
Your lab instructions will guide you, but the process generally follows these three steps:
- Download the notebook. The lab instructions will provide a link to download the notebook file. Important: You may need to right-click the link and select "Save link as..." to download the file correctly.
- Launch Google Colab. A link will be provided to open the Google Colab website (colab.research.google.com).
- Upload the notebook. In the Colab popup window, select the Upload tab and choose the .ipynb file you just downloaded.
Once uploaded, the lab notebook will open, and you can proceed with the hands-on instructions contained within it.
How to receive support in Google Colab
For common questions check out the Colab FAQ here.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for:
- For technical issues
- File a GitHub issue here: https://github.com/googlecolab/colabtools/issues
- For site or specific account questions
- File in-product support at help > feedback