Cron Job Parser - Read & Debug Cron Expressions Online

⏰ Cron Job Parser

Parse and explain Cron expressions. Understand when your scheduled tasks will run.

Format: minute hour day month weekday (5 fields)
📋 Parsed Result

Minute (0-59)
Hour (0-23)
Day (1-31)
Month (1-12)
Weekday (0-7)
🕐 Next 5 Run Times:
0 0 * * *
Every day at midnight
0 */6 * * *
Every 6 hours
0 9 * * 1-5
Weekdays at 9:00 AM
*/15 * * * *
Every 15 minutes
0 0 1 * *
1st of month at midnight
0 0 * * 0
Every Sunday at midnight
30 14 * * *
Every day at 2:30 PM
0 0,12 * * *
Midnight and noon

Online Cron Job Parser: Translate Cron Expressions into English

Managing scheduled tasks shouldn't be a guessing game. Our Cron Job Parser is a powerful tool designed to help you decode, validate, and debug cron expressions. Whether you are setting up a backup script, an automated emailer, or a database cleanup task, this tool ensures your crontab schedule is accurate by translating technical syntax into clear, human-readable language.

Why You Need a Cron Expression Parser

Cron syntax is famously powerful but can be difficult to read at a glance, especially with complex intervals.

Eliminate Scheduling Errors

A single misplaced asterisk or number can lead to a task running every minute instead of once a day, potentially crashing your server or spiking your cloud costs. Our parser identifies these mistakes before you deploy them to production.

Visualize Upcoming Run Times

Understanding 0 0 1,15 * * is one thing; knowing exactly which dates and times that falls on over the next month is another. Our tool lists the next several execution times so you can verify the schedule against your project requirements.

Key Features of the Cron Parser & Validator

Our tool supports standard crontab formats as well as extended syntax used by modern frameworks.

1. Human-Readable Translation

Instantly turn */15 9-17 * * 1-5 into "Every 15 minutes, between 09:00 AM and 05:59 PM, Monday through Friday." This feature is perfect for cross-checking logic with non-technical team members.

2. Support for All Cron Fields

The parser accurately handles all five (or six) standard cron fields:

  • Minutes: 0-59

  • Hours: 0-23

  • Day of Month: 1-31

  • Month: 1-12 (or JAN-DEC)

  • Day of Week: 0-6 (or SUN-SAT)

3. Support for Special Characters

We handle the "tricky" characters that often cause confusion:

  • Asterisk (*): Every value.

  • Comma (,): List of values.

  • Hyphen (-): Range of values.

  • Slash (/): Increments or steps.

  • L: "Last" day of the month or week.

How to Use the Cron Job Parser

  1. Enter Expression: Paste your cron expression (e.g., 5 4 * * *) into the input box.

  2. Instant Parsing: The tool automatically breaks down each field and displays the English translation.

  3. Check Schedule: View the "Next Run Times" list to confirm the execution dates.

  4. Copy and Deploy: Once satisfied, copy the expression into your crontab or task scheduler.

Common Cron Expression Examples

Schedule Cron Expression Human-Readable Description
Every Minute * * * * * Every minute, every hour, every day.
Daily at Midnight 0 0 * * * At 12:00 AM every day.
Every Sunday 0 0 * * 0 At 12:00 AM, only on Sunday.
Business Hours 0 9-17 * * 1-5 At the start of every hour from 9 AM to 5 PM, Mon-Fri.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a Cron Job?

A Cron job is a time-based job scheduler in Unix-like computer operating systems. Users use it to schedule jobs (commands or shell scripts) to run periodically at fixed times, dates, or intervals.

Does this tool support 6-field (Seconds) expressions?

Yes! Our parser is compatible with both standard 5-field crontabs and 6-field expressions often used in Java (Quartz) or Spring Framework scheduling.

Is my data private?

Absolutely. All parsing is done in your browser using JavaScript. We do not store your expressions or server details, ensuring your internal infrastructure remains private.