Cron
A time-based job scheduling system that runs commands or scripts at specified times and intervals.
In Depth
Cron is a time-based job scheduling utility originating from Unix-like operating systems. Cron jobs are defined using cron expressions—a syntax of five fields (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week) that specify when a job should execute. For example, "0 9 * * 1" runs at 9:00 AM every Monday. In database contexts, cron is used to schedule backups, report generation, data imports, cleanup tasks, and monitoring checks. Modern cloud platforms offer cron-like scheduling services (AWS EventBridge, Google Cloud Scheduler, Azure Logic Apps) that provide managed, distributed scheduling without maintaining cron servers. Many database tools use cron expressions as the standard format for defining schedule intervals.
How AI for Database Helps
AI for Database uses cron-style scheduling for automated queries, reports, and alerts with a user-friendly visual scheduler.
Related Terms
Scheduled Query
A database query configured to run automatically at specified times or intervals.
Database Automation
The use of software to perform recurring database tasks—backups, monitoring, alerts, and report generation—without manual intervention.
Workflow
A sequence of automated steps triggered by an event or schedule that processes data and takes actions.
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