Scrawlspace › Developer Utilities
Cron Expression Explainer
Paste a cron expression to read the schedule in plain English, see when it will run next, and check each field as you type.
How to use Cron Expression Explainer
- Type a Cron expression, e.g. 0 9 * * 1-5, or pick one of the Examples.
- Read the plain-English description of the schedule.
- Switch Time zone between Local and UTC.
- Check the Next runs list to confirm it fires when you expect.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read a cron expression?
Standard cron has five fields: minute, hour, day of month, month and day of week. For example, 30 18 * * 5 means 18:30 every Friday. Paste one here to see it in words.
What does */5 mean in cron?
It means every 5 units of that field. In the minute field, */5 runs every five minutes.
Does it support @daily and other shortcuts?
Yes. @hourly, @daily, @weekly, @monthly, @yearly and @reboot are recognised.
Why does my cron expression have six fields?
Standard cron uses five. A seconds or year field is an extension from schedulers such as Quartz or Spring, and the tool points this out.