A Gantt chart displays project activities as horizontal bars on a time axis. Each bar shows when the activity starts, when it ends, and its duration. Dependencies between activities show as connecting lines. Critical-path activities are typically highlighted. Modern Gantt views layer in: percent complete (filled portion of each bar), baseline versus current, resource assignment, milestones, and constraint dates.
The Gantt format dates to the early 1900s but remains the dominant way to visualize a construction schedule. Software like Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, and Smartsheet all default to Gantt views. The format is intuitive enough that owners, architects, and trade partners can read it without training. The risk: a Gantt chart shows scheduling intent but does not enforce logic. Always verify the underlying CPM logic (predecessors, successors, lags) is correct before relying on the dates the chart shows.