Cron Expression Generator
Build, parse, and explain cron expressions. See when your schedule will run next.
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Cron Syntax Reference
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| * | Any value | Every minute, every hour, etc. |
| */n | Every n | */5 in minute = every 5 minutes |
| a,b | List | 1,15 in day = 1st and 15th |
| a-b | Range | 1-5 in weekday = Mon–Fri |
| a-b/n | Range with step | 0-23/2 = every 2 hours |
│ ┌───────────── hour (0–23)
│ │ ┌───────────── day of month (1–31)
│ │ │ ┌───────────── month (1–12)
│ │ │ │ ┌───────────── day of week (0–6, Sun=0)
* * * * *
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. It's used in Unix/Linux cron jobs, CI/CD pipelines, cloud schedulers (AWS, GCP, Azure), and many other systems to automate tasks.
Is this a crontab guru alternative?▼
Yes! This tool provides the same functionality as crontab.guru — you can build, parse, and explain cron expressions. Plus, it shows next execution times and offers quick presets. All free, no signup required.
How do I read a cron expression?▼
Read left to right: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), day of week (0-6, Sunday=0). An asterisk (*) means 'every'. For example, '0 9 * * 1-5' means 'at 09:00, Monday through Friday'.
What does */5 mean in cron?▼
The */5 syntax means 'every 5th'. In the minute field, */5 means every 5 minutes (0, 5, 10, 15...). In the hour field, */5 means every 5 hours (0, 5, 10, 15, 20).
Can I use this for AWS/GCP/Azure cron?▼
Yes. Standard 5-field cron expressions work with AWS CloudWatch, GCP Cloud Scheduler, Azure Functions, GitHub Actions, and most cron-compatible systems. Some platforms support an optional 6th field (seconds) or special extensions.
Is my data safe?▼
Absolutely. This tool runs 100% in your browser — no data is sent to any server. Your cron expressions never leave your device.