Cron Expression Parser
Parse cron expressions into human-readable descriptions, see next execution dates, and use common presets. Free online cron parser tool.
Why Use a Cron Expression Parser?
Cron expressions are powerful but often confusing to read and write. Our Cron Expression Parser instantly translates any 5-field cron expression into plain English, shows you the next execution times, and provides common presets to get you started. Perfect for debugging scheduled jobs and understanding complex schedules.
Key Features
- Human-readable description of any 5-field cron expression
- Shows next 5 execution dates and times
- Common presets (every minute, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly)
- Field-by-field breakdown of each cron component
- Validation with clear error messages
How It Works
- Enter a 5-field cron expression or select a preset
- View the human-readable description instantly
- Check the field breakdown for each component
- See the next 5 scheduled execution times
Technical Details
This parser handles standard 5-field cron expressions including asterisks (*), ranges (1-5), steps (*/15, 0-23/2), and lists (1,15,30). It calculates next execution times by iterating forward minute-by-minute from the current time, checking each field against the expression pattern.
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 schedule for running tasks. It's used in Unix-like systems and many cloud platforms for scheduling jobs.
What does '*/15 * * * *' mean?
It means 'every 15 minutes' — the */15 in the minute field means 'every 15th minute', and the asterisks in other fields mean 'every hour, every day, every month, every day of week'.
Does this support 6-field or 7-field cron expressions?
Currently this parser supports standard 5-field cron expressions (minute hour day month weekday). Extended formats with seconds or year fields are not yet supported.
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