🧩 Cron Expression Generator
Create and understand Cron expressions instantly.
Generate and Understand Cron Expressions Instantly — The Easy Way to Schedule Tasks and Automations
Cron expressions can look confusing — something like
0 0 * * 1
might seem cryptic, but it simply means “Run every Monday at midnight.”
With this Free Cron Expression Generator and Explainer, you can build, understand, and verify cron jobs used in Linux, Node.js, Jenkins, Kubernetes, AWS Lambda, and more — no syntax memorization needed.
🧠 What is a Cron Expression?
A cron expression is a string of five (or six) fields separated by spaces that tell a scheduler when to run a task.
Here’s what each field means:
| Field | Allowed Values | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minute | 0–59 | 30 | Run at the 30th minute |
| Hour | 0–23 | 2 | Run at 2 AM |
| Day of Month | 1–31 | 15 | Run on the 15th of each month |
| Month | 1–12 | 6 | Run in June |
| Day of Week | 0–6 (Sun–Sat) | 1 | Run every Monday |
For example:
0 9 * * 1
→ Runs every Monday at 9:00 AM.
💡 Common Cron Expression Examples
| Cron | Meaning |
|---|---|
* * * * * | Every minute |
0 * * * * | Every hour |
0 0 * * * | Every day at midnight |
0 0 * * 0 | Every Sunday at midnight |
0 9 * * 1-5 | Every weekday at 9 AM |
*/15 * * * * | Every 15 minutes |
0 */6 * * * | Every 6 hours |
🚀 How to Use the Cron Expression Generator
- Enter your desired schedule: Choose minute, hour, day, month, and weekday fields.
- Click “Generate Expression”: Instantly see your cron pattern.
- Understand it: Read the explanation below the output.
- Copy & use it: Paste it into your CRON tab, Jenkins, or Node.js scheduler.
🔍 Why Use This Tool?
- No need to memorize syntax — the tool guides you step-by-step.
- Instant feedback — see what your expression means.
- Free & privacy-friendly — runs in your browser, no data saved.
🧩 Cron Expression Cheat Sheet
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
* | Every possible value |
, | Separate multiple values (e.g. 1,3,5) |
- | Range of values (e.g. 1-5) |
/ | Step values (e.g. */10 = every 10 units) |
? | No specific value (used in Quartz Scheduler) |
🧮 Advanced Examples
- Every 15 minutes between 9 AM–5 PM:
*/15 9-17 * * * - Every day at 11:30 PM:
30 23 * * * 0 8 * * 1,5- On the first day of every month at midnight:
0 0 1 * *
📚 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
🕒 What is a cron job?
A cron job is a scheduled task that runs automatically at specific intervals, commonly used in Linux and servers for backups, reports, and automation.
⚡ How do I test my cron expression?
You can test it using this Cron Expression Generator or by scheduling a sample job on your server to log a message.
🧮 What’s the difference between * and ? in cron syntax?
* means “every possible value,” while ? (used in Quartz) means “no specific value.”
💻 Does this tool support Quartz or Unix-style cron?
Yes. It primarily supports standard 5-field UNIX cron, but it’s easy to extend for Quartz 6-field format.
🔐 Is my data stored or logged?
No. This tool works 100% client-side — nothing you enter is stored or transmitted anywhere.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Cron expressions are powerful but tricky — especially when you need precise automation.
With this Free Cron Expression Generator & Explainer, you can easily craft perfect cron jobs for Linux, Node.js, or DevOps tasks — without memorizing syntax.
Try it above 👆 and streamline your automation workflow today!