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Soft Constraint

Soft Constraint

Scheduling Terms Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: A Soft Constraint is a Constraint that guides when a task or milestone is scheduled, such as how early it can start or finish, without inhibiting the logical flow of the schedule.

A Soft Constraint sets a limit on how early a task can start or finish, without inhibiting the logical flow of the schedule. Some Soft Constraints set no date at all and simply schedule a task as early or as late as its logic allows. In Microsoft Project, examples include As Soon As Possible (ASAP), As Late As Possible (ALAP), Start No Earlier Than (SNET), and Finish No Earlier Than (FNET). Other scheduling tools, like Primavera P6, use different terms for these kinds of Constraints.

What this means for you

Soft Constraints let a schedule reflect real date limits, such as when key information or materials will be available, while the logical links and Durations still drive the dates. Because they don't inhibit the logical flow of the schedule, the Critical Path and calculated dates stay reliable.

Also known as
N/A
Used in
Network Schedule construction; Critical Path Method calculations

FAQ

What is the difference between As Soon As Possible and As Late As Possible?
As Soon As Possible (ASAP) schedules a task at the earliest date its logic allows. As Late As Possible (ALAP) schedules it at the latest date its logic allows without delaying the project's finish.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
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