# Crontab Generator Guide

Build a cron expression and read it back in plain language.

- Tool: https://ilham.dev/tools/crontab-generator/
- Guide URL: https://ilham.dev/guides/crontab-generator/
- Tool guides index: https://ilham.dev/guides/tools/
- Broader guide: Linux Command Line Tasks Without Surprises (https://ilham.dev/guides/linux-command-line/)

## What it does

Build a cron expression from its five fields and read it back in plain English, so you can check a schedule before it quietly does the wrong thing at 3am. It also covers the special strings like @daily and @reboot.

## Use the tool

Open https://ilham.dev/tools/crontab-generator/, add the input the tool asks for, run it, and check the output before using it elsewhere.

## Input and output

- Input: text.
- Output: text.
- Category: Workflow.

## Privacy and processing
Processing happens locally in your browser. This tool does not upload the input to ilham.dev.

## Questions

### Why does 0 0 * * * run at midnight UTC?

Cron uses the server's timezone. On most servers that is UTC unless the crontab sets CRON_TZ, or the machine itself is configured otherwise.

### Does this schedule the job?

No. It only builds and explains the expression. Nothing is scheduled and nothing runs.