Cron Expression: Every Day at 11:00 PM (0 23 * * *)
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Cron Expression: Every Day at 11:00 PM (0 23 * * *)
The cron expression 0 23 * * * executes a task every day at 11:00 PM (23:00), making it ideal for late evening maintenance, final data processing, and tasks that should run before midnight.
Expression Breakdown
0 23 * * *
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ └─── Day of week: * (every day)
│ │ │ └───── Month: * (every month)
│ │ └─────── Day of month: * (every day)
│ └────────── Hour: 23 (at hour 23, 11:00 PM)
└───────────── Minute: 0 (at minute 0)
Field Values
| Field | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Minute | 0 | At minute 0 |
| Hour | 23 | At hour 23 (11:00 PM) |
| Day of Month | * | Every day (1-31) |
| Month | * | Every month (1-12) |
| Day of Week | * | Every day of week (0-7) |
Execution Time
This expression runs once per day at:
- 23:00 (11:00 PM)
Common Use Cases
1. Final Data Processing
0 23 * * * /usr/bin/python3 /scripts/final-data-processing.py
Process final data batches or complete daily data operations.
2. Pre-Midnight Cleanup
0 23 * * * /usr/local/bin/pre-midnight-cleanup.sh
Clean up temporary files, old cache entries, or stale data before midnight.
3. Final Backups
0 23 * * * /usr/local/bin/final-backup.sh
Create final backups or snapshots before the day ends.
4. System Preparation
0 23 * * * /usr/local/bin/prepare-for-midnight.sh
Prepare systems, databases, or services for midnight operations.
Example Implementations
Final Data Processing Script
# final-data-processing.py
from datetime import datetime
import sqlite3
def final_data_processing():
conn = sqlite3.connect('/var/data/app.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()
# Finalize daily transactions
cursor.execute('''
UPDATE daily_transactions
SET finalized = 1, finalized_at = ?
WHERE DATE(created_at) = DATE('now')
AND finalized = 0
''', (datetime.now(),))
# Archive completed records
cursor.execute('''
INSERT INTO daily_archive
SELECT * FROM daily_transactions
WHERE DATE(created_at) = DATE('now', '-1 day')
''')
conn.commit()
conn.close()
print(f"{datetime.now()}: Final data processing completed")
if __name__ == '__main__':
final_data_processing()
Pre-Midnight Cleanup Script
#!/bin/bash
# /usr/local/bin/pre-midnight-cleanup.sh
TEMP_DIR="/tmp/app"
CACHE_DIR="/var/cache/app"
LOG_FILE="/var/log/cleanup.log"
# Clean temporary files older than 1 hour
find $TEMP_DIR -type f -mmin +60 -delete
# Clean old cache entries
find $CACHE_DIR -type f -mtime +1 -delete
# Clean old log files
find /var/log/app -name "*.log" -mtime +7 -exec gzip {} \;
echo "$(date): Pre-midnight cleanup completed" >> $LOG_FILE
Best Practices
- Timing: 11 PM ensures tasks complete before midnight jobs start
- Error Handling: Implement comprehensive error handling and logging
- Locking: Use file locks to prevent concurrent execution
- Monitoring: Set up alerts for failed jobs
- Coordination: Ensure tasks complete before midnight operations
When to Use
✅ Good for:
- Final data processing
- Pre-midnight cleanup
- Final backups
- System preparation
- Late evening maintenance
❌ Avoid for:
- Real-time critical operations
- Very long-running processes that might overlap with midnight
Related Patterns
| Pattern | Expression | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Daily at 6 PM | 0 18 * * * | End of business day |
| Daily at 11 PM | 0 23 * * * | Late evening |
| Daily at midnight | 0 0 * * * | Start of next day |
Conclusion
The 0 23 * * * expression is perfect for late evening operations that should complete before midnight. It's commonly used for final data processing, cleanup tasks, and system preparation, ensuring everything is ready for midnight operations and the start of a new day.
Need to generate a cron expression?
Use CronOS to generate any cron expression you wish with natural language. Simply describe what you need, and we'll create the perfect cron expression for you. It's completely free!