Cron Parser

Parse and explain cron expressions

Cron Expression

Enter a cron expression (5 or 6 fields)

Format: minute hour day month weekday [year]

Example: 0 9 * * 1-5 (9 AM on weekdays)

Parsed Result

Results will appear here...

What is a Cron Parser?

A cron parser interprets cron expressions - the time-based scheduling format used in Unix-like operating systems. Cron expressions define when scheduled tasks should run, using a compact syntax with 5 or 6 fields representing minute, hour, day, month, and day of week (plus optional year).

How to Use

Enter your cron expression in the input field
Click "Parse Cron" to see the human-readable description
Review the next 5 scheduled run times

Cron Expression Format

* * * * *
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ └─ Day of week (0-6, Sunday=0)
│ │ │ └─── Month (1-12)
│ │ └───── Day of month (1-31)
│ └─────── Hour (0-23)
└───────── Minute (0-59)

Special Characters

* (asterisk): Any value (every minute, every hour, etc.)
, (comma): List of values (1,15,30 = 1st, 15th, and 30th)
- (dash): Range of values (1-5 = 1 through 5)
/ (slash): Step values (*/5 = every 5 units)
? (question mark): No specific value (used in day fields)

Common Examples

0 9 * * 1-5 - 9 AM on weekdays (Monday-Friday)
*/15 * * * * - Every 15 minutes
0 0 * * 0 - Midnight every Sunday
0 2 1 * * - 2 AM on the 1st of every month
30 14 * * * - 2:30 PM every day
0 */6 * * * - Every 6 hours

Privacy Notice

All cron parsing happens entirely in your browser. Your cron expressions are never transmitted to any server.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between day of month and day of week?

Day of month (field 3) specifies dates like "1st" or "15th". Day of week (field 5) specifies days like "Monday" or "Friday". If both are specified (not * or ?), the cron job runs when EITHER condition is met (OR logic, not AND).

What does */5 mean?

The */5 syntax means "every 5 units". For example, */5 in the minute field means "every 5 minutes" (0, 5, 10, 15, etc.). In the hour field, */6 means "every 6 hours" (0, 6, 12, 18).

Can I use names instead of numbers?

Some cron implementations support names like "MON" for Monday or "JAN" for January, but the standard format uses numbers. This tool expects numeric values: 0-6 for days (0=Sunday) and 1-12 for months.

What's the difference between 0 and 7 for Sunday?

In the day of week field, both 0 and 7 represent Sunday. This is for compatibility with different cron implementations. This tool treats 0 as Sunday.

Why are my next run times not accurate?

This tool provides a simplified calculation for common cron patterns. Complex expressions with multiple conditions, ranges, or step values may not calculate perfectly. For production scheduling, always test with your actual cron system.