Paste a Cron expression and get a clear explanation plus the next run times. Great for validating schedules before pushing to production.
How to use this Cron Parser effectively?
Paste your Cron expression into the input box and the tool instantly validates the format. If the expression is valid, it generates a human-readable description and lists the next execution times. Use the preset buttons to compare your schedule against known patterns like every hour or weekdays at 9am. If the output is not what you expect, adjust a single field at a time and watch the description update. The five-field layout above the input helps you confirm which value belongs to minutes, hours, day of month, month, and day of week. This quick feedback loop is especially useful when debugging complex schedules with ranges, lists, or step values.
Why parse Cron expressions online?
Cron syntax is compact and easy to misread. A parser converts it into plain language so you can confirm intent without guesswork. Online parsing is perfect for code reviews, incident debugging, or onboarding new team members who are not yet fluent in Cron. It also helps you avoid costly scheduling mistakes, like running a job every minute instead of every hour. Because the parser runs locally in the browser, you can validate production schedules without sharing sensitive config files. The result is faster validation and fewer surprises in deployment.
Features breakdown
- Plain-language explanation of each Cron field.
- Next-run preview to verify timing behavior.
- Preset shortcuts for common schedules.
- Validation for 5-field Cron format.
- Clear field labels for faster debugging.
- Local processing with no uploads.
Understanding ranges, steps, and lists
Ranges like 1-5 mean a continuous interval, commonly used for weekdays or monthly windows. Steps like */10 mean "every 10 units" and are useful for recurring intervals. Lists such as 1,15,30 let you schedule specific values. Be careful when combining day-of-month and day-of-week: many Cron implementations run the job when either field matches. Always confirm the next run preview for edge cases such as month boundaries or daylight saving changes. If you use a system that supports a seconds field, adjust the parser accordingly or remove the seconds before testing here.
FAQ
Q: Does this support 6-field Cron with seconds?
A: This parser expects the standard 5-field format. If your scheduler uses seconds, remove the seconds field before parsing.
Q: Why does the description look different from my system?
A: Different schedulers interpret day-of-week and day-of-month slightly differently. Always verify against your system's documentation.
Q: Is my Cron expression stored?
A: No. Parsing happens locally in your browser and nothing is uploaded.