About this tool
This tool is for anyone setting up a scheduled task — a cron job on a server, a scheduled GitHub Action, or a recurring task in almost any Unix-based system — who doesn't want to memorize cron's five-field syntax or get it subtly wrong.
How to use it
- Set each field (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week), or leave a field as * for "any."
- The cron expression and its plain-English explanation update as you go.
- Copy the expression into your crontab, CI config or scheduler.
Frequently asked questions
What do the five fields in a cron expression mean?
In order: minute (0–59), hour (0–23), day of month (1–31), month (1–12), and day of week (0–6, where 0 is Sunday). Each can be a specific value, a range, a list, or * for "every."
Can I paste an existing cron expression to understand it?
Yes — paste it into the expression field and the plain-English explanation updates to describe exactly what it means.
Does this support advanced syntax like step values (*/5)?
Basic fields, specific values and "any" (*) are fully supported. Highly advanced syntax some cron implementations allow (like step values or complex ranges) may not be reflected perfectly in the plain-English explanation — always double-check critical schedules.