Cron is a Unix application that runs jobs for users and administrators at scheduled times of the day.
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Developer(s) | AT&T Bell Laboratories |
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Initial release | May 1975 |
Written in | C |
Operating system | Linux, macOS, FreeBSD |
Platform | Cross-platform |
Type | Command |
The software utility cron also known as cron job is a time-based job scheduler in Unix-like computer operating systems. Users that set up and maintain software environments use cron to schedule jobs (commands or shell scripts) to run periodically at fixed times, dates, or intervals. It typically automates system maintenance or administration—though its general-purpose nature makes it useful for things like downloading files from the Internet and downloading email at regular intervals. The origin of the name cron is from the Greek word for time, χρόνος (chronos).
Cron is most suitable for scheduling repetitive tasks. Scheduling one-time tasks can be accomplished using the associated at utility.