Cron Expression Parser
Parse cron expressions into human-readable descriptions and preview the next scheduled run times.
Runs:At 09:00 AM, Monday through Friday
Common presets
Next 5 run times
- 5/2/2026, 9:00:00 AM
- 5/3/2026, 9:00:00 AM
- 5/4/2026, 9:00:00 AM
- 5/5/2026, 9:00:00 AM
- 5/6/2026, 9:00:00 AM
Why Use PixConvert Cron Parser
Understand cron schedules at a glance — no trial and error.
Human-Readable Description
Converts any cron expression to plain English using cronstrue — 'At 9:00 AM, Monday through Friday'.
Next Run Preview
Shows the next 5 scheduled run times with exact dates and times — verify your schedule before deploying.
Common Presets
One-click presets for the most common schedules — every minute, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly.
Field Breakdown
Visual breakdown of each cron field (minute, hour, day, month, weekday) with its current value.
Validation
Instant error detection for invalid expressions with clear error messages.
100% Private
Pure client-side parsing — no server calls, your cron expressions stay local.
Cron Parser Use Cases
Every scheduled job needs a verified cron expression.
Server Cron Jobs
Verify Linux crontab expressions before adding them to your server configuration.
- Verify backup schedules
- Check log rotation timing
- Debug missed job triggers
CI/CD Pipelines
Validate scheduled pipeline triggers in GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and CircleCI.
- GitHub Actions schedule
- GitLab CI cron jobs
- CircleCI scheduled workflows
Cloud Schedulers
Test cron expressions for AWS EventBridge, Google Cloud Scheduler, and Azure Logic Apps.
- AWS EventBridge rules
- GCP Cloud Scheduler jobs
- Azure Logic App triggers
How to Parse a Cron Expression
Enter your cron expression (5 or 6 fields) or select a preset. The parser validates it immediately.
See the human-readable description and next 5 run times. Adjust the expression and results update instantly.
Copy the verified expression to your crontab, CI/CD config, or cloud scheduler — all validation runs instantly in your browser with no server round-trip.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Cron expressions explained.
What is a cron expression?
A cron expression is a string of 5 (or 6) fields separated by spaces that defines a recurring schedule. The fields are: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), day of week (0-7, where 0 and 7 both mean Sunday). Example: 0 9 * * 1-5 = 9 AM every weekday.
What does * mean in cron?
An asterisk (*) means 'every' for that field. For example, * in the minute field means 'every minute'. */15 means 'every 15 units' (step syntax).
What is the difference between 5-field and 6-field cron?
Standard Unix cron uses 5 fields (minute, hour, day, month, weekday). Many modern schedulers (AWS, Quartz, Spring) add a seconds field as the first field, making it 6 fields. This tool supports both formats.
Why does my cron job not run when expected?
Common issues: 1) Timezone — cron uses the server's local timezone. 2) Both day-of-month AND day-of-week set — cron treats them as OR (either matches triggers). 3) Year field missing in some schedulers. Use the next-run preview to verify your expression produces the expected times.
What does @daily, @weekly, @reboot mean?
@daily = 0 0 * * * (midnight). @weekly = 0 0 * * 0 (midnight Sunday). @hourly = 0 * * * *. @monthly = 0 0 1 * *. @reboot runs once at startup. These shorthand aliases work on Linux crontab but may not be supported by cloud schedulers.