Cron Expression Explainer
Convert standard crontab schedule expressions into plain English descriptions. Built-in offline parsing.
Input Schedule
Human Explanation
| Field | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes | */5 | Every 5 minutes |
| Hours | * | Every hour |
| Day of Month | * | Every day |
| Month | * | Every month |
| Day of Week | * | Every day of the week |
How Cron Schedule Syntax Works
The 5 Cron Fields
A standard crontab schedule expression contains five spaces separating fields representing units:minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week. Each field can contain an asterisk (`*` meaning any value), numbers, ranges (e.g. `1-5`), list intervals (e.g. `1,2,5`), or step divisions (e.g. `*/5` meaning every fifth interval).
Days of Week Indexes
Depending on server operating systems, the day-of-week indexes range from 0 to 7. Generally, both 0 and 7 represent Sunday, with 1 being Monday, 2 Tuesday, 3 Wednesday, and so on.
How to Use Cron Schedule Explainer
Enter Crontab Expression
Type or paste a 5 or 6 field cron expression (e.g. `*/15 * * * *` or `0 0 1 * *`).
Instant Translation
Real-time parser translates cron fields into natural human sentences.
Inspect Field Breakdown
Examine minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week parameters.
Calculate Upcoming Run Dates
View exact future execution timestamps formatted in local time.
Key Features & Capabilities
- 5 & 6 field crontab expression parsing
- Natural language English explanations
- Next 5 execution timestamp calculator
- Preset cron expression picker (hourly, daily, weekly)
- 100% private offline browser execution
100% Client-Side Privacy: All operations occur locally in your web browser memory using JavaScript and WebAssembly. Your files, text payloads, and images are never uploaded to external servers or stored in cloud databases.
Frequently Asked Questions
View All Platform FAQsWhat do the 5 fields in a standard cron expression represent?
The 5 fields represent: 1) Minute (0-59), 2) Hour (0-23), 3) Day of Month (1-31), 4) Month (1-12), and 5) Day of Week (0-6, where 0 is Sunday).
Does this tool support 6-field cron expressions with seconds?
Yes. The explainer supports both standard 5-field crontabs and extended 6-field formats containing leading seconds.
Experiencing an issue with Cron Schedule Explainer?
Notice a bug, calculation error, or unexpected result? Let us know.