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Cron Expression Explainer

Explain Unix or common Spring cron schedules and show the next runs in a selected time zone.

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Cron schedule explainer online

Check scheduled run times for a Unix or Spring job. Select the correct dialect and time zone; supported syntax is not every scheduler's full grammar.

How to use it

Enter the source input or select Try example. Review Cron format, IANA time zone, Starting instant (ISO with offset), Upcoming runs. Select Run tool and inspect the result before copying or downloading.

Options and example settings

OptionChoices / valueExample default
Cron formatSpring (6 fields); Unix (5 fields)Spring (6 fields)
IANA time zoneEnter a valueEurope/Tirane
Starting instant (ISO with offset)Enter a value2026-10-12T00:00:00Z
Upcoming runsEnter a value5

Worked examples

Review a scheduled job before configuring Spring @Scheduled or a Unix crontab. Choose the correct dialect and an explicit time zone.

Spring: every hour at minute 7

Settings: Spring; UTC; start 2026-10-12T00:00:00Z

Input:

0 7 * * * *

The next runs are 00:07, 01:07 and 02:07 UTC on 12 October 2026.

Unix: every two hours at minute 15

Settings: Unix; UTC; start 2026-10-12T00:00:00Z

Input:

15 */2 * * *

The next runs are 00:15, 02:15 and 04:15 UTC on 12 October 2026.

Limitations and common mistakes

  • Spring has six fields including seconds; Unix has five fields starting with minutes.
  • Use an IANA time zone and an ISO starting instant with an offset. Daylight-saving transitions can affect local schedules.
  • This tool rejects Spring L/W/# extensions and restricts combined day-of-month/weekday rules. Quartz syntax is not supported.
  • Select the correct dialect and time zone; supported syntax is not every scheduler's full grammar.

Frequently asked questions

How can I interpret a cron expression online?

Enter the source input or select Try example. Review Cron format, IANA time zone, Starting instant (ISO with offset), Upcoming runs. Select Run tool and inspect the result before copying or downloading.

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