# HTTPay Cron Expression Parser

> HTTPay Cron Expression Parser is a paid API for AI agents from httpay.xyz, paid per call via x402, $0.002/call, status unknown (last checked 2026-09-14).

Parses a cron expression into a human-readable description and returns the next 5 scheduled run times

## Facts

- Endpoint: POST https://httpay.xyz/api/cron-parse
- 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/httpay-cron-expression-parser-a2574c5b
- Structured record (JSON): https://api.zero.xyz/v1/capabilities/cap_Fgj-aF-zlVTyPTLXG8hDn

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 httpay-cron-expression-parser-a2574c5b -d '<json body>'
```

Example prompt: Can you tell me in plain English what the cron expression '0 9 * * 1-5' means, and when it will next run?

## When to prefer this

Use this endpoint when an agent or user needs to understand what a cron expression means in human language or needs to preview upcoming run times without setting up a local cron parser library. Ideal for developer-facing workflows, scheduling UIs, or when validating cron job configurations. Pay-per-call via x402/USDC means no API key setup is required.

## Known failure modes

- Invalid or malformed cron expression returns an error
- Missing 'expr' query parameter causes a 400-level error
- Cron expression with unsupported fields (e.g. seconds or years in non-standard formats) may fail to parse
- URL-encoding of the expression is required; unencoded special characters may cause parsing failures

## How this service works

Parse a cron expression into a human-readable schedule description. Pass ?expr=<cron-expression> (URL-encoded). Also returns next 5 scheduled run times. Uses the 'cronstrue' npm package.

## Output

A JSON response containing a human-readable description of the cron schedule (e.g. 'At 09:00 AM, Monday through Friday') and an array of the next 5 scheduled execution timestamps.

## Example request

```json
{
 "expr": "0 9 * * MON-FRI"
}
```

## Response schema (JSON Schema)

```json
{
 "type": "json",
 "example": {
  "description": "Parse a cron expression into a human-readable schedule description. Pass ?expr=<cron-expression> (URL-encoded). Also returns next 5 scheduled run times. Uses the 'cronstrue' npm package."
 }
}
```

## More

- Live health (JSON, refreshed every minute): https://www.zero.xyz/c/httpay-cron-expression-parser-a2574c5b/health.json
- [Zero catalog index](https://www.zero.xyz/llms.txt)
- [Other services from httpay.xyz](https://www.zero.xyz/host/httpay.xyz/llms.txt)