Cron Expression Parser

How to use

1. Enter expression — Type a 5-field cron expression
2. Read description — See a human-readable explanation
3. Review fields — Understand what each field means

What Is a Cron Expression Parser?

A cron expression parser converts the compact syntax of cron schedules into human-readable descriptions. Cron expressions define when a task should run using five fields: minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week.

Cron Syntax Reference

• * (asterisk): Every value in the field's range
• , (comma): List of specific values (e.g., 1,3,5)
• - (hyphen): Range of values (e.g., 1-5 = Monday through Friday)
• / (slash): Step values (e.g., */15 = every 15 units)

Common Patterns

0 0 * * * = daily at midnight. 0 */2 * * * = every 2 hours. 0 9 * * 1-5 = weekdays at 9 AM. 0 0 1 * * = first day of every month. */5 * * * * = every 5 minutes.

Where Cron Is Used

Linux/Unix scheduled tasks (crontab), CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI), cloud schedulers (AWS EventBridge, Google Cloud Scheduler), database maintenance jobs, backup scripts, monitoring and alerting systems, and email digest scheduling.

Tips

Always test cron expressions before deploying to production. Remember that day of week can use 0-7 where both 0 and 7 represent Sunday. Month and day-of-week fields are often zero-indexed differently across systems. When in doubt, use named values (MON-FRI) if your system supports them.

Privacy

All parsing happens locally in your browser.

Convert timestamps with the Unix Timestamp Converter. Test regex patterns with the Regex Tester.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cron expression?

A cron expression is a string of 5 fields (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week) that defines a recurring schedule. Originally from Unix cron jobs.

What does * mean?

The asterisk means 'every.' So * in the hour field means every hour.

What does */5 mean?

The slash indicates a step value. */5 in the minute field means every 5 minutes.

Are 6-field crons supported?

This tool supports standard 5-field cron expressions. Some systems add a seconds field — strip it before using this tool.

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