Cron Job Every second (6-field)

A 6-field Vixie cron example showing seconds support. Use the cron string 0 * * * * *, see the next 5 execution times, and copy Python, Node.js, Bash and n8n snippets.

Quick Answers

What does the "Every second (6-field)" cron expression mean?
This cron expression is "0 * * * * *", which in plain English means: A 6-field Vixie cron example showing seconds support..
When will this cron expression run next?
With the expression "0 * * * * *", the next execution times are Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 12:45:00 PM UTC, Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 12:46:00 PM UTC, Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 12:47:00 PM UTC.
How do I use this cron expression?
Copy the exact string into crontab, cron triggers, or any scheduler such as GitHub Actions, n8n or Docker. Pre-built code snippets for Python, Node.js, Bash, Docker, GitHub Actions and n8n are included on this page.
Explore the full Cron Cheat Sheet with all 50 schedules
Cron Expression
Copy this exact string into crontab, cron triggers, or schedulers.
0 * * * * *

Human readable

A 6-field Vixie cron example showing seconds support.

Next 5 execution times

  1. 1Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 12:45:00 PM UTC
  2. 2Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 12:46:00 PM UTC
  3. 3Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 12:47:00 PM UTC
  4. 4Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 12:48:00 PM UTC
  5. 5Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 12:49:00 PM UTC
Python
from crontab import CronTab
from datetime import datetime

# Install: pip install python-crontab
cron = CronTab(user=True)
job = cron.new(command="/usr/bin/python3 /var/www/job_every-hour-on-vixie.py", comment="scheduled by crongen")
job.setall("0 * * * * *")
cron.write()

print(f"Installed: 0 * * * * * -> /usr/bin/python3 /var/www/job_every-hour-on-vixie.py")

Related schedules

Every minute

* * * * *

Every 2 minutes

*/2 * * * *

Every 5 minutes

*/5 * * * *

Every 10 minutes

*/10 * * * *

Every 15 minutes

*/15 * * * *

Every 20 minutes

*/20 * * * *

About the "every second (6-field)" cron schedule

The "every second (6-field)" cron schedule uses the expression "0 * * * * *". This is a 6-field (Vixie) cron expression where the first field counts seconds.

In plain English the cron string "0 * * * * *" means: Every minute.

This cadence is a common choice for hourly data ingestion, cache refresh or status aggregation jobs and steady background processing that keeps a small queue drained. The schedule is deliberately kept simple: copy the string into any cron-aware scheduler (crontab, Vercel Cron, GitHub Actions, n8n, Docker or Kubernetes CronJob) and the run will repeat automatically — steady, with no manual triggering.

Note: "0 * * * * *" uses the 6-field Vixie syntax, where the first field is seconds. Standard Linux crontab uses 5 fields and cannot express seconds, so this schedule needs a scheduler that supports seconds (e.g. Vercel Cron or a 6-field compatible crontab).

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