# Cron Expression Parser & Next-Run Time Calculator

> Cron Expression Parser & Next-Run Time Calculator is a paid API for AI agents from x402.forgemesh.io, paid per call via x402, $0.002/call, status unknown (last checked 2026-09-14).

Validates a cron expression and returns the next N scheduled run times as ISO 8601 timestamps in any IANA timezone.

## Facts

- Endpoint: POST https://x402.forgemesh.io/parse-cron-expression
- Price: $0.002/call
- Payment: x402
- Status: unknown
- Last checked: 2026-09-14
- Activations on Zero: 0
- Tags: x402
- Canonical page: https://www.zero.xyz/c/cron-expression-parser-next-run-time-calculator-fdf320c4
- Structured record (JSON): https://api.zero.xyz/v1/capabilities/cap_MwQUvLtx9WNfDgfoMgMtI

Status and success rate cover calls made through Zero and Zero's own probes. Third-party monitors may report differently.

## How to call it through Zero

Zero handles the 402 payment challenge and records the run. With the Zero CLI installed (`npm i -g @zeroxyz/cli`):

```sh
zero fetch --capability cron-expression-parser-next-run-time-calculator-fdf320c4 -d '<json body>'
```

Example prompt: Can you parse the cron expression '0 9 * * 1-5' and show me the next 8 times it'll fire, in America/New_York timezone?

## When to prefer this

Use this endpoint when you need to validate a cron expression and preview its actual future fire times in a specific timezone, especially when building schedulers, automation workflows, or debugging why a cron job isn't running as expected. Prefer this over manual parsing when timezone-aware ISO timestamps are required.

## Known failure modes

- Invalid cron expression syntax returns a validation error
- Unrecognized IANA timezone string causes a bad request error
- Count parameter out of acceptable range may return an error or be capped
- Malformed request body missing the expression field returns a 400-level error

## How this service works

Cron expression parser API: validate any cron expression and get its next N run times as ISO timestamps in any timezone. For scheduler-building and automation agents.

## Output

Returns an array of the next N ISO 8601 timestamps representing when the cron expression will trigger, along with any validation feedback indicating whether the expression is syntactically correct.

## Request schema (JSON Schema)

```json
{
 "type": "object",
 "properties": {
  "count": {
   "type": "string",
   "description": "how many runs, default 5"
  },
  "timezone": {
   "type": "string",
   "description": "IANA tz, default UTC"
  },
  "expression": {
   "type": "string",
   "description": "cron expression, e.g. */15 9-17 * * 1-5"
  }
 }
}
```

## Response schema (JSON Schema)

```json
{
 "type": "json",
 "example": {
  "next_runs": [
   "2026-07-16T13:00:00.000Z",
   "2026-07-17T13:00:00.000Z",
   "2026-07-20T13:00:00.000Z"
  ]
 }
}
```

## More

- Live health (JSON, refreshed every minute): https://www.zero.xyz/c/cron-expression-parser-next-run-time-calculator-fdf320c4/health.json
- [Zero catalog index](https://www.zero.xyz/llms.txt)
- [Other services from x402.forgemesh.io](https://www.zero.xyz/host/x402.forgemesh.io/llms.txt)