What it means
The chart lists tasks down the left side and dates across the top. Milestones mark key dates, and arrows show dependencies, such as a task that cannot start until another finishes. Henry Gantt popularized the format in the early 1900s. It differs from a kanban board, which shows work by status and not by calendar time.
Why it matters when you buy software
Gantt views are a common dividing line between basic and advanced project management plans. Check whether the view is included in the plan you need, whether it supports dependencies and baselines, and whether a schedule change updates linked tasks automatically. A tool with only a list or board view cannot show overlapping work against dates in the same way.
Where it appears in the reviews
Project management reviews on this site treat timeline views as part of ease of use and output quality, and plan limits on them affect pricing and value. See the best project management software roundup and the Asana review for examples.
See also: Kanban, Sprint and the glossary index.