Definition: Gantt chart

Named after its inventor Henry Gantt, the Gantt chart is a type of bar chart used for scheduling projects. In a Gantt chart, activities (on the vertical axis) are scheduled against time (on the horizontal axis). Each activity is represented as a bar, and the position of the bar represents the start and end time, which gives you the duration of the activity.

Gantt charts allow you to see the following at a glance:

1. What activities are involved in the project
2. The start and end times of activities
3. The duration of activities
4. What overlaps exist and where
5. The timeline of the project, particularly when it starts and ends

Modern Gantt chart programs can also help with additional features like keeping track of utilized resources and conflict management.