Cron Expression Parser
Paste any cron expression to get a plain-English explanation and preview the next 10 scheduled run times. Supports standard 5-field and extended 6-field (with seconds) syntax.
About Cron Expressions
The 5-field syntax
A standard cron expression has five space-separated fields: 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 any field means "every value in that range".
| Field | Range | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Minute | 0-59 | 30 |
| Hour | 0-23 | 9 |
| Day (month) | 1-31 | 1 |
| Month | 1-12 | * |
| Day (week) | 0-6 | 1-5 |
Special characters
Four characters give cron its flexibility. * matches every value. / sets a step interval: */5 means every 5 units. - defines a range: 1-5 means values 1 through 5. , lists specific values: 0,15,30,45 means those four values. Combine them for complex schedules like 0,30 9-17 * * 1-5.
Common patterns at a glance
Some schedules come up constantly in practice. * * * * * runs every minute. 0 * * * * runs at the top of every hour. 0 0 * * * runs daily at midnight. 0 9 * * 1-5 runs at 9 AM on weekdays. 0 0 1 * * runs on the first of every month. Writing them once and storing them in version control is a solid practice.
Cron vs. scheduled tasks
Cron is the Unix/Linux standard for time-based job scheduling, available on macOS and all Linux distributions. On Windows Server the equivalent is Task Scheduler. Cloud platforms add their own layers: AWS EventBridge, GCP Cloud Scheduler, and GitHub Actions all accept standard 5-field cron syntax (with some using UTC by default). Always confirm the timezone assumption of your scheduler.
How to use
- 1Enter a cron expression
Type a 5-field cron expression in the input box (minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week), or click one of the common examples.
- 2Read the explanation
The tool translates the expression into plain English so you can verify it matches your intent.
- 3Check the next run times
The next 5–10 scheduled execution dates and times are listed so you can confirm the schedule is correct.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cron expression?
A cron expression is a 5-field string that defines a recurring schedule: "minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week". For example, "0 9 * * 1-5" means "every weekday at 9:00 AM". The * wildcard means "every value". Cron is used by Linux schedulers, cloud functions, CI/CD systems, and databases.
What does the * (asterisk) mean?
The asterisk is a wildcard that matches every possible value for that field. "* * * * *" means "every minute". You can also use ranges (1-5), lists (1,3,5), and step values (*/15 = every 15 units).
Does it show the next run times?
Yes — the tool calculates and displays the next 5 to 10 scheduled execution dates and times relative to the current moment, so you can visually verify the schedule before deploying it.
Can I use it for Kubernetes, AWS, or GitHub Actions cron jobs?
Yes. Kubernetes CronJobs, AWS EventBridge, GitHub Actions scheduled workflows, and most cloud schedulers all use standard 5-field cron syntax. This tool validates the same format.