Cron Expression Parser
Parse and explain cron expressions online. Get human-readable descriptions, see next scheduled run times, and learn cron syntax.
Field Reference
Field Breakdown
Next 10 Run Times
Syntax Cheat Sheet
*Any value5Exact value (e.g., 5)1-5Range (1 through 5)1,3,5List (1, 3, and 5)*/5Every 5th value1-10/2Every 2nd value from 1 to 10Examples
About Cron Expression Parser
Cron expressions are used to schedule recurring tasks in Unix-like operating systems, CI/CD pipelines, cloud functions, and job schedulers. A standard cron expression has 5 fields: minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week.
This tool parses any standard 5-field cron expression, provides a human-readable description, shows the next 10 scheduled run times, and breaks down each field for easy understanding.
All processing happens client-side in your browser. No data is sent to any server.
How to Use This Cron Expression Parser
This free online cron expression parser helps you understand and debug cron schedules. It converts cron expressions into human-readable descriptions and shows upcoming run times.
- Enter your cron expression — type or paste a 5-field cron expression (e.g.,
*/5 * * * *). - Read the description — the tool instantly provides a human-readable explanation of the schedule.
- Check next run times — see the next 10 scheduled execution times in your local timezone.
- Review field breakdown — each field is explained individually to help you understand the expression.
Try the preset examples to learn common cron patterns, or use the cheat sheet as a reference for the syntax.
Common Use Cases
- CI/CD pipelines — Verify cron schedules for GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Jenkins scheduled builds.
- Cloud function triggers — Debug scheduling expressions for AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, or Azure Functions.
- Kubernetes CronJobs — Validate cron schedules for Kubernetes batch workloads.
- Server cron jobs — Set up and verify Unix/Linux crontab entries for database backups, log rotation, and maintenance scripts.
- Blockchain automation — Schedule on-chain operations like price oracle updates, keeper bot executions, and governance proposal checks.
Related Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cron expression?
A cron expression is a string of five fields separated by spaces that defines a schedule for recurring tasks. The fields are: 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 expressions are used in Unix/Linux cron jobs, CI/CD pipelines, cloud schedulers (AWS EventBridge, Google Cloud Scheduler), and task automation tools.
How do I read a cron expression?
Read a cron expression from left to right: the first field is the minute, second is the hour, third is the day of month, fourth is the month, and fifth is the day of week. An asterisk (*) means 'every', a number means 'at that specific value', a range like 1-5 means 'from 1 through 5', and */5 means 'every 5th'. For example, '0 9 * * 1-5' means 'at 9:00 AM, Monday through Friday'.
What does */5 mean in a cron expression?
The */5 syntax means 'every 5th value'. In the minute field, */5 means every 5 minutes (0, 5, 10, 15, ..., 55). In the hour field, */5 means every 5 hours (0, 5, 10, 15, 20). You can use any step value: */2 means every other value, */10 means every 10th value, and so on.
What is the difference between 5-field and 6-field cron?
Standard Unix cron uses 5 fields (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week). Some systems like Quartz Scheduler and Spring add a 6th field for seconds at the beginning. AWS EventBridge uses 6 fields with a year field at the end. This tool supports the standard 5-field format used by most cron implementations.
How do I schedule a cron job for every Monday at 9 AM?
The cron expression for every Monday at 9 AM is '0 9 * * 1'. The fields break down as: minute=0 (at the start of the hour), hour=9 (9 AM), day of month=* (any), month=* (any), day of week=1 (Monday). In most cron implementations, 0=Sunday, 1=Monday, ..., 6=Saturday.
Can I use this tool for AWS, GitHub Actions, or Kubernetes cron?
Yes, this tool parses the standard 5-field cron syntax used by GitHub Actions (schedule trigger), Kubernetes CronJobs, AWS CloudWatch Events (without the 6th year field), Google Cloud Scheduler, and traditional Unix cron. The core 5-field syntax is the same across all these platforms.
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