What is a cron expression?

A cron expression is a string of 5 fields (minute, hour, day-of-month, month, day-of-week) that defines a recurring schedule. For example, "0 9 * * 1-5" means "9:00 AM every weekday". Cron jobs run automatically on servers at the defined schedule.

What does * mean in a cron expression?

* means "every" for that field. So "* * * * *" runs every minute of every hour of every day. You can also use ranges (1-5), lists (1,3,5), and step values (*/15 meaning every 15 units).

Is cron timezone-aware?

Standard cron runs in the server local timezone. Many modern schedulers (AWS EventBridge, GitHub Actions) let you specify a timezone explicitly. Always verify which timezone your cron server uses to avoid off-by-one-hour bugs around daylight saving changes.

What is the difference between 5-field and 6-field cron?

5-field cron (standard Unix cron) starts with minute. Some systems like AWS, Spring, and Quartz add a seconds field at the beginning, making it 6 fields. This generator produces standard 5-field expressions.

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Cron Expression Generator

Build cron expressions visually. Get human-readable descriptions and next 5 run times. Free online cron expression generator.

About this tool

Build cron expressions visually without memorizing cryptic syntax. Select your schedule using dropdowns and toggles, see the plain-English description instantly, and preview the next 5 run times to confirm the schedule is exactly right.

Quick Presets

0 9 * * 1-5

Minute

Hour

Day of Month

Month

Day of Week

📖 Meaning: At minute 0, past hour 9, on Mon–Fri

Next 5 Run Times

#14/15/2026, 9:00:00 AM

#24/16/2026, 9:00:00 AM

#34/17/2026, 9:00:00 AM