Critical Path
The longest sequence of dependent activities that determines the shortest possible project duration.
The critical path is the longest sequence of logically connected activities through a network, and it determines the project’s minimum completion date. It is identified by a forward pass (Early Start/Finish) and a backward pass (Late Start/Finish), then deriving total float per activity. Critical-path activities have zero total float, so any delay extends the project end date equally. A frequent exam trap confuses total with free float: free float is slip allowed without delaying an activity’s immediate successor, while total float measures slack against the overall deadline. Multiple critical paths of equal length can exist, and near-critical paths warrant monitoring too.
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