Cron Expression Parser

About Cron Expression Parser

This free online cron expression parser helps you understand and build cron schedules. See human-readable descriptions and upcoming run times for any cron expression. All processing happens in your browser.

Cron Syntax

A standard cron expression has 5 fields:

┌───────────── minute (0-59)
│ ┌───────────── hour (0-23)
│ │ ┌───────────── day of month (1-31)
│ │ │ ┌───────────── month (1-12)
│ │ │ │ ┌───────────── day of week (0-7, 0 and 7 = Sunday)
│ │ │ │ │
* * * * *

Special Characters

• * — any value (every minute, every hour, etc.)
• , — value list separator (1,3,5 = 1st, 3rd, 5th)
• - — range of values (1-5 = 1 through 5)
• / — step values (*/15 = every 15)

Common Use Cases

• Scheduling automated backups and deployments
• Setting up recurring CI/CD pipeline runs
• Configuring log rotation schedules
• Scheduling email newsletters and reports
• Setting up periodic data sync jobs

FAQ

What's the difference between 5-field and 6-field cron?

Standard Unix cron uses 5 fields (minute through day-of-week). Some systems add a 6th field for seconds. This tool uses the standard 5-field format.

Can I use names instead of numbers?

Some cron implementations support month names (JAN-DEC) and day names (SUN-SAT). This tool supports numeric values for maximum compatibility.