Understanding tasks
What a ClickUp task is, what information you'll find inside one, and how tasks are used to track your project work.
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- Beginner
Tasks are the building blocks of everything we do together in ClickUp. Every piece of work — a design, a revision, a fix, a new feature — lives inside a task. This guide explains what a task contains and how to read one confidently.
Quick summary
A task is a single unit of work. It has a title, a description, a status, comments, and file attachments. You can see what's being worked on, leave feedback, and track progress — all without needing to send an email.
What is a task?
A task is like a file folder for one piece of work. It keeps everything related to that work in one place: the brief, the files, the conversation, and the current status.
Instead of chasing updates across email threads, you can open a task and see exactly where things stand.
What you'll find inside a task
Tasks are laid out the same way, though not every part is filled in on every task. Here is what each one means.
Title
The short name at the top of the task. It tells you at a glance what the work is about — for example, "Update homepage hero banner" or "Fix broken contact form."
Description
The full details of the work. This is where we write what needs to be done, any background context, and specific requirements. If something is unclear, the comments section (below) is the right place to ask.
Status
The colored label showing where the task is in the workflow — for example, To Do, In Progress, or Complete. See Task statuses explained for a full breakdown.
Assignee
The person (or people) responsible for completing the task. This is usually someone on the Chykalophia team. You'll see who it is near the top of the task, below the title.
Due date
The target date for the task to be finished. Not every task has a due date, but when one is set it appears near the top of the task details.
Comments
The conversation thread on the right side of the task, shown alongside the task's activity. This is where you can ask questions, leave feedback, or request changes. Think of it as the email thread for that specific piece of work, except it stays organized and attached to the task.
Attachments
Files, screenshots, and documents that belong to this task. To add one, drag it onto the left side of the task, or click Upload in the attachments section. Dropping a file on the right side of the task adds it to a new comment instead — that works too, because files attached to a comment also show up in the attachments section. See How to attach files & screenshots for step-by-step instructions.
How to open a task
Go to your project. Sign in to ClickUp and find your project in the Shared with me section of the left sidebar. If you're not sure how to navigate there, see Navigating ClickUp as a client.
Find the task list or board. Your project will show tasks in a list view (rows) or a board view (columns of cards). Both show the same tasks — just in different layouts.
Click the task title. The task opens full screen, as a pop-up over your list, or in a narrow panel on the right, depending on your task layout setting.
Read the description first. The description gives you the full context for the task. Comments from the team are on the right side of the task.
Tasks, subtasks, and checklists
Some tasks are broken into smaller pieces:
- Subtasks are smaller tasks nested inside a parent task. They show up beneath the main description. Each subtask has its own status and can have its own assignee.
- Checklists are simple to-do lists inside a task — for steps that don't need their own full task. You'll find them in the task's Checklists section, below the description.
You don't need to manage subtasks or checklists yourself. They're mainly used by the Chykalophia team to organize complex work.
What you can do in a task
As a client, you can read tasks and leave comments, and — depending on the access we've given you — attach files as well. Unless we've given you edit access, you can't change a task's details, so you won't accidentally change its title, deadline, or scope. If you ever need something changed, just leave a comment or reach out to your project lead.
Common questions
How do I know which tasks need my attention?
We'll tag you directly using @mentions in comments when your input is needed. You'll also receive a notification. See Mentioning people to get their attention for how this works.
Can I create my own tasks?
Possibly — depending on the permissions we've set for your workspace. If you'd like to submit a new request for work, the best way is to use the process described in How to submit a new request.
What if I don't understand the task description?
Leave a comment on the task and ask your question there. That way the answer stays attached to the task and the whole team can see it. See How to comment on a task.
Why do some tasks have a 'Waiting on Client' status?
That status means we need something from you — feedback, a file, a decision, or an approval — before we can move forward. Check the task comments for details on what's needed. See Task statuses explained for the full list.
Can I see all tasks across my project at once?
Yes. Your project's List view shows its tasks in one place, though completed tasks are hidden by default. Click Show closed at the top of the list to see them too. You can filter by status, assignee, or due date to find what you're looking for. See Navigating ClickUp as a client for tips on finding your way around.
Related guides
- Task statuses explained
- How to comment on a task
- How to attach files & screenshots
- Mentioning people to get their attention
- Navigating ClickUp as a client
- Your client portal explained
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