Overview
Cron Expression Generator works by analyzing natural language schedule descriptions and using AI to generate accurate cron expressions. Perfect for setting up automated tasks and scheduled jobs.
Endpoint
One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.
curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/crongenerator?schedule=every%20weekday%20at%209am" \
-H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/crongenerator?schedule=every%20weekday%20at%209am', {
headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);
const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);import requests
res = requests.get(
"https://api.apiverve.com/v1/crongenerator?schedule=every%20weekday%20at%209am",
headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json()["data"])package main
import (
"fmt"
"io"
"net/http"
)
func main() {
req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/crongenerator?schedule=every%20weekday%20at%209am", nil)
req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")
res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
defer res.Body.Close()
out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
fmt.Println(string(out))
}Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.
Authentication
Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.
A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.
Parameters
Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
scheduleRequired | string | Natural language description of the schedule (max 200 characters) length 0–200 |
Response
Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.
{
"status": "ok",
"error": null,
"data": {
"schedule": "every weekday at 9am",
"expression": "0 9 * * 1-5",
"description": "Runs every weekday at 9:00 AM."
}
}Response fields
Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.
| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
schedule | string | "every weekday at 9am" | Original natural language schedule description provided |
expression | string | "0 9 * * 1-5" | Generated cron expression in standard 5-field format |
descriptionPremium | string | "Runs every weekday at 9:00 AM." | Human-readable explanation of the cron expression behavior |
Errors
Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
400 | Input was rejected | Read error; it names the parameter. |
401 | Key missing or invalid | Check the header name and the key value. |
403 | Key valid, but not permitted | A key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping. |
429 | Rate limited, or out of credits | Read error to tell them apart; see rate limits. |
Use cases
- Task Automation
- Convert natural language schedules into cron expressions for automated task scheduling in Linux, Jenkins, or CI/CD pipelines
- Backup Scheduling
- Generate cron expressions for automated backup schedules without memorizing complex cron syntax
- Report Generation
- Create cron expressions for scheduled report generation and email delivery tasks
- System Maintenance
- Generate cron expressions for maintenance windows, cleanup tasks, and system health checks
Other ways to use Cron Expression Generator
Set up Cron Expression Generator on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
Related
More in Data Generation: