Tape and float is the drywall finishing step where joint tape and joint compound are applied over the seams between drywall panels. Layers of compound are floated over the tape and sanded smooth, turning individual panels into one smooth, continuous surface ready for paint.
Each coat gets wider than the last, creating a seamless gradient that allows the joint to disappear into the wall’s flat surface. Missing tape or rushed floats leave ridges that show up under paint no matter how many coats go on top, so this step sets the ceiling for everything that follows it.