Cron Expression Explainer API — Understand Any Cron Schedule
Explain cron expressions in plain English. Convert */15 * * * * into 'every 15 minutes'. Perfect for understanding and debugging cron schedules. Free API.
What is Cron Expression Explanation?
Cron expressions are used to schedule recurring tasks on Unix-like systems. The cron explainer API translates cryptic cron syntax into human-readable descriptions. It supports standard 5-field cron expressions (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week) with special characters like */ (every), / (step), - (range), and , (list).
How to Use It
Call GET /api/v1/cron-explainer?expression=%2F15+*+*+*+*. Returns { expression: string, explanation: string, fields: { minute: string, hour: string, day_of_month: string, month: string, day_of_week: string }, next_executions: string[] }.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What format does the cron expression use?
Standard 5-field cron format: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), day of week (0-6, 0=Sunday).
Does it support special strings like @daily?
Yes. Common shortcuts like @daily, @hourly, @weekly, @monthly, and @yearly are supported.