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Cron Expression Parser

Translate cron expressions into plain English, with next run times.

cron-parser.tool
minutehourday of monthmonthday of week
Quick presets
Enter a valid cron expression to see upcoming run times
Nothing you type here is ever sent to a server - parsing happens locally in your browser.
Overview

What is a cron expression parser?

This tool parses a 5-field cron expression, explains what it means in plain English, and calculates the next 5 times it will actually run. It correctly implements cron's day-of-month/day-of-week OR logic - a common source of confusion - and includes quick presets for common schedules.

Quick start

How to use this tool

  1. 1Type a cron expression (minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week), or pick a quick preset.
  2. 2A plain-English description appears immediately below the input.
  3. 3The next 5 actual run times are calculated and listed, based on the current time.
Where it helps

Common use cases

Understanding an unfamiliar cron expression found in a config file or script
Verifying a schedule actually runs when you intend before deploying it
Building a new cron expression using the quick presets as a starting point
Debugging why a scheduled job isn't running when expected
Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How does it handle day-of-month and day-of-week together?

The same way standard cron does - if both fields are restricted (not *), a date matches if it satisfies either one (OR logic), not both at once. If only one is restricted, only that one is checked.

What cron syntax features are supported?

Wildcards (*), specific values, ranges (1-5), steps (*/15 or 1-10/2), and comma-separated lists (1,15,30) - the standard building blocks used in virtually all cron implementations.

What if no upcoming runs are found?

The tool searches up to 2 years ahead. If nothing is found in that window (rare, usually from an overly restrictive combination of fields), it will say so rather than searching indefinitely.

Is my cron expression sent anywhere?

No - parsing and calculation both happen entirely in your browser.

quick_facts.json

{

"runs_in_browser": true,

"data_sent_to_server": false,

"signup_required": false,

"price": "free",

"category": "Date/Time Tools"

}

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