What is the purpose of a checklist?

A checklist is a comprehensive list of crucial tasks to be completed in a specified order; this ensures no important step is forgotten. Checklists are used in several different fields, from complex medical surgeries to building inspections.

The use of a checklist can help improve efficiency by minimizing mistakes. Checklists also provide a written trail detailing what was done at every step of a project. The ideal checklist should be precise, efficient, easy to use in any situation and straight to the point. All the items on a good checklist should be actionable and grouped by category. Examples of checklists include project checklists, personal checklists and revolving checklists.