Cron Generator
Build and understand cron schedules with our visual editor. Generate cron expressions, see human-readable descriptions, preview next execution times, and get ready-to-use code snippets for Linux, Node.js, and Python.
Enter specific values separated by commas (e.g., 1,5,10)
Enter specific values separated by commas (e.g., 1,5,10)
0 9 * * *At 09:00
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How to Use
- 1 Choose a mode — Use Visual Builder to construct expressions field by field, Parse Expression to validate existing cron strings, or Quick Schedules for common presets.
- 2 Configure each field — For each time field (minute, hour, day, month, weekday), select Every, Specific value, Range, or Step interval to define when the job runs.
- 3 Review the expression — See the generated cron expression and its human-readable description. The tool shows exactly when your scheduled task will execute.
- 4 Check next executions — View the next 5 execution times to verify your schedule works as expected before deploying.
- 5 Copy code snippets — Get ready-to-use code for Linux crontab, Node.js (node-cron), or Python (python-crontab) to implement your schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cron expression?
A cron expression is a string of 5-6 fields that defines when a scheduled task should run. Each field represents: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), and day of week (0-6, Sunday=0). For example, 0 9 * * 1-5 means 'at 9:00 AM, Monday through Friday'.
What's the difference between 5-field and 6-field cron?
Standard Unix cron uses 5 fields (minute, hour, day, month, weekday). Some systems like Quartz scheduler or node-cron support 6 fields, adding seconds as the first field. Enable 'Include seconds' if your system requires it.
What do *, /, and - mean in cron?
* means 'every' value in that field. / means 'every X units' (e.g., */5 = every 5 minutes). - defines a range (e.g., 1-5 = Monday through Friday). , lists specific values (e.g., 0,30 = at 0 and 30 minutes).
How do I schedule a job for specific days?
Use the day of week field (0-6, where 0=Sunday). For weekdays, use 1-5. For weekends, use 0,6. For specific days like Monday and Wednesday, use 1,3.