Is Cron Expression Parser free?

Yes, completely free with unlimited parsing, no registration, no login, and no hidden fees. Use it as many times as needed.

What cron expression formats are supported?

Supports standard 5-field cron format (minute hour day month day-of-week), 6-field format with seconds, and common variations like @daily, @hourly, @weekly. Non-standard formats will show an error message.

How do I read a cron expression?

Cron expressions have 5-6 fields representing time units: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day (1-31), month (1-12), day-of-week (0-6 where 0=Sunday). Special characters like * (any), ? (no specific value), and - (range) modify the schedule.

Can I use this tool on my phone?

Yes, works on all devices including iPhone, Android, tablets, and desktop browsers. The responsive design adapts automatically to your screen size.

Is my cron expression data private?

Yes, completely private. All parsing happens in your browser. Your expressions are never stored, sent to servers, or logged anywhere.

What does the * symbol mean in cron?

The asterisk (*) means 'any' or 'every' for that field. For example, * in the hour field means every hour, while * in the minute field means every minute.

How do I create a cron expression that runs daily at 3 PM?

Use the expression: 0 15 * * * — This means minute 0, hour 15 (3 PM), any day, any month, any day-of-week. Paste it into the parser to confirm.

What does the ? symbol mean in cron?

The question mark (?) means 'no specific value' and is used only in day or day-of-week fields. It prevents conflicting values when you specify one but not the other.

free

Cron Expression Parser — free

Parse cron expressions with plain English explanations.

Cron Expression

Format: minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week

Minute

Hour

Day of Month

Month

Day of Week

Runs at minute 0, hour 9, every day-of-month, on Monday.

Common Presets

How to use Cron Expression Parser

Paste Your Cron Expression

Copy your cron expression and paste it into the input field labeled 'Enter Cron Expression' at the top of the parser. Supported formats include standard 5-field (minute, hour, day, month, day-of-week) and 6-field expressions with seconds.

Click the Parse Button

Press the blue 'Parse Expression' button located directly below the input field. The tool will instantly validate your syntax and process the expression.

Read the Plain English Explanation

View the detailed breakdown in the 'Explanation' section showing what your cron expression does. The result displays the schedule frequency, next run times, and a human-readable description of the execution pattern.

Check Next Execution Times

Scroll to the 'Next Run Times' table to see the next 10 scheduled executions with exact dates and times. This helps verify your expression schedules tasks as intended.

Copy or Clear Results

Use the 'Copy Result' button to copy the explanation to your clipboard, or click 'Clear All' to parse a new cron expression.

Frequently Asked Questions

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