What is the main function of a Gantt chart in project management?

A Gantt chart serves a critical role in project management by providing a visual representation of the project schedule, displaying tasks along a timeline along with their durations. This visual depiction allows project managers and team members to easily see the start and end dates of tasks, the sequence of activities, and how they overlap. Having this information laid out clearly helps in tracking progress and ensuring that the project stays on schedule.

The ability to visualize tasks and their timelines simplifies the communication of project status to stakeholders and helps in effective planning and coordination among team members. By using a Gantt chart, project managers can quickly identify deadlines, dependencies between tasks, and any potential bottlenecks in the project timeline, making it an invaluable tool for project planning and management.