Cron Expression Parser & Builder
Decode any cron expression into plain English — or build one visually and preview next run times
minutehourdommonthdow
Minutes
Matches every minutes (*)
*Hours
Matches every hours (*)
*Day of Month
Matches every day of month (*)
*Month
Matches every month (*)
*Day of Week
Matches every day of week (*)
*Human-readable Description
Every minute
*
min
*
hr
*
dom
*
mon
*
dow
Next 5 Run Times
Cannot compute next runs for this expression.
How to use / Why use this tool / FAQ
How to use
Use the visual panels to set the schedule for each field (Minutes, Hours, Day, Month, Weekday). The cron expression updates instantly. You can also type a cron expression directly and the UI will reflect it. Copy the expression with one click.
Why use this tool
Stop memorizing cron syntax. Build and validate cron schedules visually, understand what any expression does in plain English, and preview when it will next run.
FAQ
- How do I decode a cron expression?
- Paste the expression (e.g. 0 2 * * *) into the input box — the parser instantly translates it into plain English and shows the next run times, so you can verify the schedule before deploying.
- What is a cron expression?
- A cron expression is a string of 5 fields (minute, hour, day, month, weekday) that defines a recurring schedule for automated tasks.
- Does it support 6-field cron (with seconds)?
- This tool supports the standard 5-field Unix cron format used by crontab, GitHub Actions, and most schedulers.
- What does */ mean in cron?
- '*/n' means 'every n units'. For example, */5 in the minutes field means 'every 5 minutes'.
- How do I translate a cron expression to English?
- This page works as a cron translator: paste any expression and it is decoded into a human-readable sentence like 'At 02:00 every day' — no need to look up field order or syntax.
- How do I check when a cron job will run next?
- After parsing an expression, the tool previews the next 5 run times, so you can confirm the schedule matches your intent before committing it to crontab, GitHub Actions, or PM2.