Cron Expression Parser
Paste any cron expression to parse it instantly — get a plain-English description, field-by-field breakdown, and the next 5 scheduled run times. Works with Linux crontab, GitHub Actions, AWS EventBridge, and more. No signup, no server — runs entirely in your browser.
Common Presets
Field Breakdown
0minute 09hour 9*every day of month*every month1-5day of weeks Mon–FriRuns
At 9:00 AM, weekdays Mon–Fri
Next 5 Run Times
- 1
10月30日週五 上午09:00 - 2
11月2日週一 上午09:00 - 3
11月3日週二 上午09:00 - 4
11月4日週三 上午09:00 - 5
11月5日週四 上午09:00
Real-World Use Cases
1. Verifying a GitHub Actions Schedule
Your CI/CD workflow runs on a cron schedule. Paste the expression from your .github/workflows/deploy.yml to confirm it runs when you expect — avoiding surprise 3 AM deployments.
Input Expression
30 9 * * 1-5
Parsed Output
At 09:30, Monday through Friday Next 3 runs (UTC): Mon Apr 06 2026 09:30 Tue Apr 07 2026 09:30 Wed Apr 08 2026 09:30
2. Debugging a Database Backup That Runs Too Often
Your pg_dump backup is hammering the server every minute instead of every hour. Paste the crontab expression to spot the mistake and see the correct one.
Wrong Expression
* * * * * → "Every minute" (oops!)
Correct Expression
0 * * * * → "At minute 0 of every hour" Next: 15:00, 16:00, 17:00...
3. Setting Up a Monthly Report Email
You want a report generated at 8 AM on the 1st of every month. Build the expression and verify the next 5 runs to confirm it aligns with your business calendar.
Input Expression
0 8 1 * *
Parsed Output
At 08:00 on day 1 of every month Next 3 runs: May 01 2026 08:00 Jun 01 2026 08:00 Jul 01 2026 08:00
How to Use — Step by Step
- Paste your cron expression — Copy it from your crontab, CI config, or scheduler settings and paste into the input field.
- Read the plain-English description — The parser translates the 5 fields into a human-readable sentence like "Every weekday at 9:30 AM."
- Check the field breakdown — Each field (minute, hour, day, month, weekday) is decoded individually so you can spot mistakes.
- Review next run times — The tool calculates and displays the next 5 scheduled execution times in your timezone.
- Use presets — Try common presets (every 5 min, hourly, daily at midnight, weekdays at 9 AM) as starting points, then tweak for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a cron expression parser do?▼
A cron expression parser reads a cron expression (5 space-separated fields: minute, hour, day-of-month, month, day-of-week) and explains it in plain English. It validates each field, describes what the expression means, and calculates the next scheduled run times.
What are the 5 fields in a cron expression?▼
The 5 fields are: Minute (0–59), Hour (0–23), Day of Month (1–31), Month (1–12), and Day of Week (0–6, where 0=Sunday). Each field can use * (any), numbers, ranges (1-5), steps (*/5), or comma-separated values (1,3,5).
How do I parse '0 9 * * 1-5'?▼
The expression '0 9 * * 1-5' means: at minute 0, hour 9, every day of month, every month, Monday through Friday. In plain English: every weekday at 9:00 AM.
What does */5 mean in a cron expression?▼
The */5 syntax means 'every 5 units'. In the minute field, */5 means every 5 minutes (0, 5, 10, 15, ..., 55). In the hour field, */6 would mean every 6 hours (0, 6, 12, 18).
Is this cron parser compatible with GitHub Actions and AWS EventBridge?▼
This parser uses the standard 5-field Unix cron format. GitHub Actions adds a 6th field for seconds in some contexts, and AWS EventBridge uses a slightly different syntax with ? for day-of-month or day-of-week. For most common expressions, this tool works well as a reference.
Does this tool send my cron expressions to a server?▼
No. All parsing and calculation runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to any server.
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