---
sourceDocument: Brazil Strategic Portfolio Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/it-business-management

 Release :

    - brazil

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Brazil Strategic Portfolio Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itbm

bundleId :

    - itbm

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Task constraints

# Task constraints {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Brazil  
Updated September 10, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
Task constraints define the earliest or latest dates a task can start or finish in an automatically scheduled project. Apply constraints to align the schedule with resource availability, contract milestones, and external
deadlines.

## Types of constraints {#task-constraints-project-management__section_cjc_y2j_q3c}

Flexible constraints: These constraints don't require an associated date. The scheduling engine places tasks as early or as late as possible within the boundaries set by dependencies and other constraints. As Soon As Possible (ASAP)
and As Late As Possible (ALAP) are flexible constraints.

Semi-flexible constraints: These constraints require an associated date that defines the earliest or latest allowed start or finish date for a task. The task can complete at any time, as long as it meets the defined boundary. For
example, a Start No Earlier Than (SNET) constraint set to May 20 helps avoid the task from starting before that date, even if its predecessor finishes earlier.

Inflexible constraints: These constraints require an associated date and anchor the task to a specific start or finish date, overriding task dependencies. For example, a Must Start On (MSO) constraint set to September 20 schedules the
task on that date regardless of when its predecessor finishes.

## How constraints interact with dependencies {#task-constraints-project-management__section_g1r_2fj_q3c}

When a task has both a dependency and a constraint, the behavior depends on the constraint type:

* Flexible constraints respect the dependency. The task starts as soon as its predecessor finishes.
* Semi-flexible constraints enforce the date boundary. If the predecessor finishes before the constraint date, the task waits until the constraint date is reached.
* Inflexible constraints override dependencies. The task is fixed to the specified date, regardless of when the predecessor finishes.
{#task-constraints-project-management__ul_pxn_jfj_q3c}
**Related concepts**   

* [Parent-child rollup task calculations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/3weNeEJ9QkIwqpx_jqeMYA "Date changes, stage changes, and value calculations roll up from child tasks to parent tasks.")
* [Schedule conflicts between project tasks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/85j3BM6hVLKdg86SnpVEgw "Scheduling conflict helps you to identify project tasks that are not honoring dependencies. A scheduling conflict occurs when one project task prevents other task from starting on the specified date because of dependencies or constraint types.")
* [Change requests and project tasks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ZkhGfgeKB~FkHMFHLKnxrw "Large-scale changes approved by your change approval board (CAB) require new or existing projects to be implemented.")
* [Project task checklists](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BVzuAuGfEEpelmaCF1rrMQ "A project task checklist gives you the ability to track activities that must be completed on a task.")
* [Task resources](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/w~H3Atz3V5ZWpT6XVYRAtw "Resources are the individuals or groups assigned to perform tasks and subtasks in Project Management.")
* [Project and project task states](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bQblhSRKFYUFAtYcetZnEA "In the base system, the states in project and project task inherit the states in Task table.")
* [Composite Fields](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/xrYvRuLnRLGaq_TgrJkoPw "A composite field combines information from two fields in a table to form a single field.")
* [Cost plan breakdown](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pXf57bUi5lvSm6BRQ6GWBg#cost-plan-breakdown "A cost plan breakdown captures the estimated cost and actual cost for every fiscal period. Cost plan, project, demand, program, and portfolio are the breakdowns types that are available.")
* [Actual project costs](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uL9KhrvjAuyzeZrC7xX~1Q "Actual project costs come after you create expense lines for cost plans or after human resources use time cards to create expense lines.")
* [Types of external dependencies](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/zFT1dOQeaS1qRENDU90C1w "The Project management application supports two types of external dependencies - hard and soft.")
* [Project and portfolio funding](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/5Rt5yShNQZmK~iP1XUGadA "Specify the amount of money that projects and portfolios are allowed to have.")
* [Project scheduling in Project Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jLG4dhvV_0j92NSEIGi7tw "Define how tasks are sequenced, timed, and connected to determine when a project starts and finishes with Project scheduling.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Project tasks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NwKYF4DZA7WDeM3lp0vkwA "Create project tasks in several ways, even from other applications in the instance.")
* [Apply or change a task constraint](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/MNxDMI417uCLE6OAL6JmBQ "Apply a constraint to control when an automatically scheduled task starts or finishes. Set the constraint type and the associated constraint date if required.")