Cron Expression Explainer
Translate cron expressions into plain English and list the next run times — supports ranges, steps, names and @daily-style macros.
How to use
- 1Type a cron expression, e.g. */15 9-17 * * 1-5.
- 2Read the plain-English schedule and check the upcoming run times.
How it's calculated
Fields: minute (0–59), hour (0–23), day of month (1–31), month (1–12 or JAN–DEC), day of week (0–7 or SUN–SAT, 0 and 7 are Sunday). When both day fields are restricted, a run happens if either matches (standard cron behavior).
Frequently asked questions
What does */5 mean in cron?
'Every 5th' value of that field, starting from the lowest. */5 in the minute field runs at 0, 5, 10 … 55 minutes past each hour.
How do I run a job every weekday at 9am?
Use 0 9 * * 1-5 — minute 0, hour 9, any day of month, any month, Monday to Friday.
Which time zone does cron use?
The server's time zone, unless your scheduler sets one (e.g. CRON_TZ, or UTC on most cloud schedulers). Choose UTC or local here to match.