Cron Schedule Generator
Generate and validate cron expressions visually.
Generate and validate cron expressions visually.
Quick Presets
Pro Tip
Cron expressions rely on the system time of the server running them. Always ensure your server timezone matches your expected schedule (usually UTC).
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Reading and Building Cron Schedule Expressions
Overview
A cron expression is a compact string that tells a scheduler when to run a task — like '0 9 * * 1' for every Monday at 9 AM. The five fields (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week) are powerful but easy to get wrong. This tool translates a cron expression into plain English and helps you build one, so you can schedule jobs with confidence, all in your browser.
How to Use (Step by Step)
- 1
Enter a cron expression
Paste an existing expression to decode, or start building one field by field.
- 2
Read the plain-English meaning
The tool explains each field and describes when the schedule fires.
- 3
Copy the expression
Use the validated cron string in your crontab, scheduler, or CI configuration.
How It Works
A cron expression has five fields separated by spaces, each accepting a number, a list, a range, or * for 'every'. The tool parses your expression, explains what each field means, and describes the schedule in words (and often shows the next run times). Going the other way, you pick a frequency and it generates the matching expression. Everything runs locally.
When to Use This
Understanding an unfamiliar cron line in a config or crontab. Building a schedule for a backup, report, or cleanup job. Double-checking that '*/15' means every 15 minutes, not something else. Setting up a CI pipeline, cron job, or scheduled function. Converting a plain-language schedule into a valid expression. Debugging why a job runs at the wrong time.
Frequently Asked Questions
In order: minute (0–59), hour (0–23), day of month (1–31), month (1–12), and day of week (0–6, where 0 is Sunday). An asterisk in a field means 'every' value for that field.
Important Notes
A common trap is the day-of-month and day-of-week fields interacting: when both are set (not *), most cron implementations run the job if either matches, which can trigger more often than intended.