~/devtools / cron
tool::cron

Cron Expression
Generator

Build cron expressions with a visual editor. Get human-readable descriptions, preview the next 5 execution times, and start from common presets. Supports reverse mode: paste an expression to parse it.

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// format reference
minute0–59
hour0–23
day1–31
month1–12
weekday0–6 (Sun–Sat)
*any / every
*/nevery n-th
a-brange
a,b,clist
@dailyshorthand
// cron expression
* * * * *
// visual builder
*Matches every value (wildcard)
// presets
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// about this tool

What is a Cron Expression?

Cron is a time-based job scheduler in Unix/Linux systems that automatically runs tasks at specified times. It uses five fields — minute, hour, day, month, and weekday — to precisely define a recurring schedule.

Cron expressions are essential for server automation. They enable repetitive tasks like database backups, log cleanup, email notifications, and cache refresh to run without manual intervention.

This tool lets you build cron expressions with an interactive GUI and preview the next 5 scheduled run times — so you can set up schedules without making mistakes. A reverse mode lets you paste an existing expression to understand its meaning.

Use Cases
  • ▸Automatic database backup at 2 AM every day
  • ▸Hourly server health checks and monitoring alerts
  • ▸Weekly report emails every Monday at 9 AM
  • ▸Monthly invoice generation on the 1st of each month
  • ▸Cache refresh and expired session cleanup every 5 minutes
FAQ
Q. What does */5 * * * * mean?
It means every 5 minutes. The */n syntax runs the task at every multiple of n — so */15 runs at minute 0, 15, 30, and 45.
Q. How do I run a task only on weekdays?
Set the weekday field to 1-5. For example, 0 9 * * 1-5 runs at 9 AM Monday through Friday. 0 is Sunday and 6 is Saturday.
Q. How can I verify my cron expression is correct?
Use the Next 5 Runs preview to see the actual upcoming execution times. An invalid expression will display a parse error message.
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