What is a Cron Expression?
A cron expression is a string representing a schedule for running automated tasks. It consists of five fields: minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week. Each field can contain specific values, ranges, wildcards (*), or step values to define when a job should execute.
How to Use This Cron Generator
Use the visual editor to quickly build cron expressions by selecting minute, hour, and day options. For common schedules, click a preset button. For complex expressions, switch to advanced mode and type directly. The tool validates your expression in real-time and shows the next scheduled runs.
Key Features
This cron expression generator offers visual editing for easy schedule creation, quick presets for common patterns, real-time validation with error messages, next run time calculation with timezone support, and a comprehensive guide to cron syntax. All processing happens in your browser - no data is sent to any server.
Free Online Tool - No Registration Required
This cron expression generator is completely free to use with no limitations. No account registration, no data collection, and no ads. Your expressions are processed entirely in your browser, ensuring your scheduling configurations remain private.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of a cron expression?
A standard cron expression has 5 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). Each field is separated by a space.
How do I schedule a job to run daily at 9 AM?
Use the expression '0 9 * * *' which means: at minute 0, hour 9, every day of month, every month, every day of week. Or simply click the 'Daily 9 AM' preset.
How do I run a job only on weekdays?
Use '1-5' in the day of week field. For example, '0 9 * * 1-5' runs at 9 AM Monday through Friday. In the visual editor, select Mon-Fri in the weekdays section.
What does */5 mean in cron?
The */5 pattern means 'every 5 units'. In the minute field, it runs every 5 minutes (0, 5, 10, 15...). You can use this step syntax in any field.
How do timezones affect cron jobs?
Cron expressions run based on the server's timezone, not your local timezone. Use the timezone settings to see how your schedule translates. It's often recommended to use UTC on servers for consistency.
Can I use this for AWS, Kubernetes, or GitHub Actions?
Yes! Standard cron expressions work across most platforms including AWS CloudWatch Events, Kubernetes CronJobs, GitHub Actions, and traditional Unix cron. Some platforms may support additional fields like seconds.