In every project some tasks determine the finish date. The critical path is the sequence of dependent activities that adds up to the longest overall duration; any delay on that path delays the entire project.

Project managers identify it by mapping tasks, durations, and dependencies, then calculating the earliest and latest start and finish times. Tasks on the critical path have zero slack. Resources and attention naturally concentrate there because float exists only on non-critical work.

The critical path can shift when estimates change or when extra resources crash selected activities. Keeping the path visible helps teams protect the end date and avoid wasting effort on tasks that cannot affect completion.

• Longest sequence of dependent project tasks
• Determines the minimum project duration
• Tasks on the path have no slack
• Guides prioritization of attention and resources