Free Online Cron Expression Parser
Parse and understand cron expressions instantly. Get a human-readable description and the next 5 scheduled run times. Free, 100% client-side.
100% Client-Side · Your data never leaves your browserField reference
| Field | Range | Special chars |
|---|---|---|
| Minute | 0–59 | * / , - |
| Hour | 0–23 | * / , - |
| Day (month) | 1–31 | * / , - L W |
| Month | 1–12 | * / , - |
| Day (week) | 0–7 (0/7=Sun) | * / , - L # |
How to Use Cron Expression Parser
Type or paste a cron expression into the input field. The five token indicators below the field show the current value of each position at a glance.
- Click Parse or press Ctrl/Cmd+Enter to generate the human-readable description and the next 5 scheduled execution times in your local timezone.
- Expand Common examples to load a pre-built expression — ideal for learning the syntax.
- The Field reference table at the bottom lists valid ranges and special characters for each position.
Special characters supported: * (all), , (list), - (range), / (step), ? (any, day fields only), L (last), W (weekday nearest), # (nth weekday).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cron expression?
A cron expression is a string of five fields (minute, hour, day-of-month, month, day-of-week) that defines a recurring schedule. It is used by Unix-like systems and job schedulers to trigger tasks automatically.
What does * (asterisk) mean in a cron field?
* means "every value" for that field. For example, * in the minute field means "every minute". Combined, * * * * * runs every minute of every hour every day.
What is the difference between */5 and 0,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55?
They are equivalent. */5 uses the step syntax and means "every 5th value starting from 0". Explicit comma-separated lists achieve the same result but are more verbose.
Does the tool support 6-field cron with seconds?
This parser supports the standard 5-field Unix cron format (minute through day-of-week). Some systems (like Quartz Scheduler) add a seconds field — those expressions are not supported here.
What are the valid ranges for each field?
Minute: 0–59. Hour: 0–23. Day of month: 1–31. Month: 1–12 (or JAN–DEC). Day of week: 0–7 (0 and 7 are both Sunday, or SUN–SAT).
Can I use named months and weekdays?
Yes. You can write JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC for months and SUN, MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT for days of the week.