What is a cron expression?

A cron expression is a string with 5 space-separated fields that defines a recurring schedule for automated tasks. The fields represent: minute (0–59), hour (0–23), day of month (1–31), month (1–12), and day of week (0–6, where 0 is Sunday). Wildcards (*), step values (*/n), ranges (n-m), and lists (n,m) are all supported.

What does */5 * * * * mean?

It means 'run every 5 minutes' — i.e., at :00, :05, :10, :15, :20, :25, :30, :35, :40, :45, :50, and :55 of every hour, every day.

How do I schedule a job every weekday at 9 AM?

Use: 0 9 * * 1-5. The 0 means at minute 0 (top of the hour), 9 means 9 AM, and 1-5 in the day-of-week field means Monday through Friday.

What is the difference between * * * * * and 0 * * * *?

* * * * * runs every single minute. 0 * * * * runs once per hour — specifically at the top of each hour (when the minute field equals 0). So 0 * * * * fires at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and so on.

Does this tool send my cron expressions to a server?

No. The Cron Expression Visualizer runs 100% in your browser using pure JavaScript. Your expressions are never sent to any server — there is no backend, no database, and no sign-up required.

Can I use this tool for Kubernetes CronJobs or GitHub Actions schedules?

Yes. Both Kubernetes CronJobs and GitHub Actions scheduled workflows use standard 5-field cron expressions, which this tool fully supports.

Free Developer Tool

Decode Any Cron
Expression Instantly

Paste any cron expression and get an instant plain-English explanation, field-by-field breakdown, and next scheduled run times — all in your browser.

🕐

Instant Explanation

Converts any cron expression to plain English in milliseconds — no more guessing what your schedule does.

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Next Run Times

See the next 10 scheduled runs so you can verify your cron job fires exactly when you expect.

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Field Breakdown

Each of the 5 cron fields explained with color-coded highlighting and human-readable descriptions.

Cron Expression

Minute

Hour

Day of Month

Month

Day of Week

Explanation

Runs every 5 minutes

Field Breakdown

*/5

Minute

Every 5 minutes

0–59

Hour

Every value

0–23

Day of Month

Every value

1–31

Month

Every value

1–12

Day of Week

Every value

0–6 (Sun–Sat)

Next 10 Runs

2:45 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

2:50 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

2:55 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

3:00 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

3:05 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

3:10 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

3:15 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

3:20 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

3:25 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

3:30 PM

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Cron Expression Visualizer.

Decode Any CronExpression Instantly

Instant Explanation

Next Run Times

Field Breakdown

Explanation

Field Breakdown

Next 10 Runs

Frequently Asked Questions

Decode Any Cron
Expression Instantly