# What Is A Gantt Chart?
URL: https://pro.rv-grid.com/guides/gantt/introduction/what-is-gantt/
Source: src/content/docs/guides/gantt/introduction/what-is-gantt.mdx
Description: Core Gantt concepts used by RevoGrid Enterprise Gantt.
> **Gantt = structured timeline for tasks with dependencies**

A **Gantt chart** is a **visual representation of a plan over time**. It’s a way to show tasks, their durations, and how they relate to each other on a timeline.

It answers only three things:

* **What** tasks exist
* **When** they happen
* **In what order / relation** they happen

---

## Core features of a pure Gantt

#### 1. Task model

Each task has:

* id
* start date
* end date (or duration)
* optional parent (hierarchy)

👉 This is the **data backbone**

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#### 2. Timeline rendering

* Horizontal time axis
* Tasks rendered as bars
* Zoom levels (day / week / month)

👉 Without this, it’s not a Gantt

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#### 3. Dependencies (defining feature)

Tasks can depend on each other:

* Finish → Start
* Start → Start
* Finish → Finish

👉 This is what makes it a **planning tool**, not just visualization

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#### 4. Hierarchy (WBS — work breakdown structure)

* Parent / child tasks
* Expand / collapse

👉 Lets you represent real projects, not flat lists

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#### 5. Direct manipulation

* Drag task → change start date
* Resize → change duration

👉 If this is missing → it's just a chart, not a planning tool

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#### 6. Milestones

* Tasks with zero duration
* Represent key events

👉 Needed for any serious usage

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#### 7. Progress (basic tracking)

* % completion per task
* Visual overlay on bars

👉 Not scheduling — just status

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#### 8. Large data handling

* Thousands of tasks
* Smooth scroll
* Virtualization

👉 This is our competitive edge

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## What is NOT part of Gantt (important boundary)

❌ Assigning people to time slots
❌ Calendar conflicts
❌ Shift planning
❌ Workforce shift-slot scheduling across personnel calendars

👉 That’s **scheduler territory** layered on top of Gantt fundamentals

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## Mental model **“Grid-first Gantt”**

A Gantt is:

```text
Hierarchy (tree)
+ Timeline (x-axis)
+ Dependencies (graph edges)
```

* Left side = grid (tasks, editable)
* Right side = timeline (bars)
