Cron Explainer
Enter exactly five numeric cron fields to get a field-by-field explanation and precise field or token errors.
A QUICK WALKTHROUGH
How to use this tool
- Enter exactly five cron fields separated by spaces.
- Review the plain-English explanation and any field-specific error.
- Copy the explanation or keep the expression for your own scheduler.
Standard five-field syntax
Cron Explainer accepts only the conventional numeric minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week fields. Each field supports wildcards, ranges, steps, and comma-separated lists.
Local validation
Parsing happens in your browser. The tool checks each value against its field range and points to the field or token that needs correction. It does not install or run a cron job.
Scheduler limits
The explanation describes the five-field text only. It does not predict daylight-saving-time behavior, timezone effects, missed runs, or scheduler-specific variations.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common questions
Which cron fields are supported?
The standard five numeric fields are supported: minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week.
Can I use names such as MON or JAN?
No. This version accepts numeric fields only. Use 1–12 for months and 0 or 7–6 for Sunday through Saturday.
Does it schedule a job?
No. It only explains and validates text locally; add the reviewed expression to your own cron implementation and check that scheduler’s rules.