Cron Expression Parser
Parse, validate, and build cron expressions with a human-readable schedule description, next execution times, interactive builder, and common presets.
Human-readable Schedule
At 9:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Field Breakdown
Interactive Builder
Common Presets
Cron Syntax Reference
| Character | Meaning |
|---|---|
| * | Any value (wildcard) |
| , | Value list separator (e.g. 1,3,5) |
| - | Range of values (e.g. 1-5) |
| / | Step values (e.g. */15 = every 15) |
How to Use the Cron Expression Parser
- 1Enter a 5-field cron expression (minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week) in the input field
- 2Read the human-readable description to verify the schedule matches your intent
- 3Review the visual field breakdown to understand what each part of the expression means
- 4Check the next 5 execution times to confirm the schedule fires when expected
- 5Use the interactive builder to construct expressions by editing individual fields
- 6Click a preset button to quickly load common schedules like hourly, daily, or weekdays
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cron expression?
A cron expression is a string of five fields separated by spaces that defines a recurring schedule. The fields represent minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), and day of week (0-6, where 0 is Sunday). Cron is used by Unix/Linux systems, CI/CD pipelines, cloud schedulers, and task automation tools.
What special characters can I use in cron expressions?
Four special characters are supported: * (any value / wildcard), , (list separator, e.g. 1,3,5), - (range, e.g. 1-5 for Monday through Friday), and / (step, e.g. */15 means every 15 units). You can combine them — for example 1-5/2 means every 2nd value from 1 to 5.
How do I schedule a job for weekdays only?
Set the day-of-week field to 1-5. For example, "0 9 * * 1-5" runs at 9:00 AM every Monday through Friday. Days are numbered 0 (Sunday) through 6 (Saturday).
Is my data sent to a server?
No. The cron parser runs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your expressions are never transmitted to any server, ensuring complete privacy.
Does this tool support 6 or 7-field cron expressions?
This tool supports the standard 5-field cron format used by most Unix cron daemons and cloud schedulers. Some systems add a seconds field (6 fields) or a year field (7 fields), but these are non-standard extensions. For those formats, simply omit the extra fields when using this tool.
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