Tasks versus events
Key Takeaway
Use a task for a to-do item and assign it to a user. Use an event for a scheduled meeting and invite attendees.
Activities in Salesforce include tasks, events, and calendars. Tasks and events can both be related to records, such as leads and opportunities, but they track different things and involve people differently.
Task or event
| Task | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| Use it for | A to-do item, such as a follow-up call | A scheduled meeting with customers, prospects, or colleagues |
| People | Assigned to a user | Has attendees, the people invited to the meeting |
| Related records | Records such as leads, contacts, accounts, opportunities, campaigns, and contracts | Opportunities, leads, accounts, and contacts |
| Available in | All editions except Personal | Events in Lightning Experience: all editions except Personal and Contact Manager |
For example, imagine a rep with two items to track. The first is a follow-up call. The call is a to-do item, so the rep creates a task. The second is a scheduled meeting with colleagues, so the rep creates an event, and the colleagues are its attendees.