Generally, but not always, the sequence of schedule activities that determines the duration of the project. It is the longest path through the project. See also critical path methodology. This is the line connecting the start of a planning network with the final activity in that network through those activities with the smallest float. Often this is a line through the network connecting those activities with a zero float, i.e. those activities where any delay will delay the time of the entire network. The series of tasks from the beginning of a project up to its end that takes the longest time. This is also the shortest time in which all tasks in the project can be completed. By definition, no task on the critical path can have any slack time. In other words, no task on the critical path can be delayed or extended without affecting the finishing date of the project. More information