Cron Expression Explainer

Understand a cron schedule and see its next runs.

Runs in your browser Developer Tools Free · No account

Input

Processed locally

This tool runs entirely in your browser. The data you paste or load is never uploaded.

Result

Enter your input, then run the tool.

About this tool

Translates a five- or six-field cron expression into plain English, validates every field against its allowed range, and lists the next scheduled runs in UTC. Handy before deploying a scheduler change you cannot easily test.

How to use it

  1. Paste a cron expression such as 0 3 * * 1-5.
  2. Press Explain to read the description and validation notes.
  3. Check the next-run list against the timezone your server uses.

Frequently asked questions

Does it support @daily shortcuts?
Yes, @hourly, @daily, @weekly, @monthly and @yearly are expanded to their standard five-field equivalents.
Why do the next runs stop at five?
Five upcoming runs are enough to confirm a schedule; a broader projection would need month or year ranges that are easy to misread.

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