Generate and parse cron expressions with 5/6/7 field formats. Includes preset templates, human-readable descriptions, and next execution preview. All processing is done locally in your browser.
Features
Generate expressions with a visual form
Parse existing expressions with human-readable descriptions
Preview next 10 execution times
Support 5, 6, and 7 field formats
How to use
1Fill in the fields to generate a cron expression.
2Paste an expression to parse and preview execution times.
3Copy the expression for use in your crontab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cron expression?
A cron expression is a string of whitespace-separated fields that defines a schedule for executing tasks. It is commonly used in Linux/Unix crontab, job scheduling, data backups, and automation. The standard format has 5 fields (minute, hour, day, month, weekday), while extended formats support 6 or 7 fields (adding seconds and year).
What's the difference between 5, 6, and 7 field formats?
The 5-field standard includes minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week. The 6-field format adds a seconds field at the beginning. The 7-field format adds a year field at the end. This tool automatically detects the format of pasted expressions.
Why is Sunday represented as both 0 and 7?
Some implementations use 0 for Sunday (standard crontab, range 0-6), while others use 7 (range 1-7). This tool accepts both representations and treats them as the same Sunday during execution-time calculation without forcibly rewriting your input.
What special characters can I use in a cron expression?
Common special characters include: * (all values), , (list), - (range), / (step). For example, */5 means every 5 units, and 1-5 means the range from 1 to 5.
What are common use cases for cron expressions?
Common use cases include: scheduled website backups (daily at midnight), periodic email reports (every Monday morning), log file cleanup (every hour), data fetching (every minute), and script execution (monthly on the 1st).