Cron Expression: Every Friday at Midnight (0 0 * * 5)
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Cron Expression: Every Friday at Midnight (0 0 * * 5)
The cron expression 0 0 * * 5 executes a task every Friday at midnight (00:00), making it ideal for end-of-workweek operations, weekly summaries, and tasks that should run when the business week ends.
Expression Breakdown
0 0 * * 5
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ └─── Day of week: 5 (Friday)
│ │ │ └───── Month: * (every month)
│ │ └─────── Day of month: * (every day)
│ └───────── Hour: 0 (at hour 0, midnight)
└─────────── Minute: 0 (at minute 0)
Field Values
| Field | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Minute | 0 | At minute 0 |
| Hour | 0 | At hour 0 (midnight) |
| Day of Month | * | Every day (1-31) |
| Month | * | Every month (1-12) |
| Day of Week | 5 | Friday |
Execution Time
This expression runs once per week at:
- Friday 00:00 (midnight)
Common Use Cases
1. Weekly Summaries
0 0 * * 5 /usr/bin/python3 /scripts/generate-weekly-summary.py
Generate weekly summaries or end-of-week reports.
2. Weekly Backups
0 0 * * 5 /usr/local/bin/weekly-backup.sh
Create full weekly backups at the end of the workweek.
3. Data Archiving
0 0 * * 5 /usr/local/bin/archive-weekly-data.sh
Archive weekly data or move it to long-term storage.
4. System Maintenance
0 0 * * 5 /usr/local/bin/weekly-maintenance.sh
Run weekly system maintenance, cleanup, or optimization.
Example Implementations
Weekly Summary Script
# generate-weekly-summary.py
import json
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
import sqlite3
def generate_weekly_summary():
conn = sqlite3.connect('/var/data/app.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()
# Get data from this week (Monday to Friday)
end_date = datetime.now()
start_date = end_date - timedelta(days=5)
cursor.execute('''
SELECT
COUNT(*) as total_requests,
AVG(response_time) as avg_response_time,
SUM(revenue) as total_revenue
FROM requests
WHERE timestamp >= ? AND timestamp < ?
''', (start_date, end_date))
metrics = cursor.fetchone()
summary = {
'week_start': start_date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),
'week_end': end_date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),
'summary': {
'total_requests': metrics[0],
'avg_response_time': round(metrics[1], 2) if metrics[1] else 0,
'total_revenue': round(metrics[2], 2) if metrics[2] else 0
}
}
with open(f'/var/reports/weekly_summary_{end_date.strftime("%Y%m%d")}.json', 'w') as f:
json.dump(summary, f, indent=2)
print(f"{datetime.now()}: Weekly summary generated")
conn.close()
if __name__ == '__main__':
generate_weekly_summary()
Best Practices
- Workweek End: Friday midnight marks the end of the business week
- Error Handling: Implement comprehensive error handling and logging
- Locking: Use file locks to prevent concurrent execution
- Monitoring: Set up alerts for failed weekly jobs
- Resource Management: Weekly jobs may be heavier, monitor resources
When to Use
✅ Good for:
- Weekly summaries
- Weekly backups
- Data archiving
- End-of-workweek operations
- Weekly maintenance
❌ Avoid for:
- Real-time critical operations
- Tasks requiring more frequent execution
Related Patterns
| Pattern | Expression | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Every Monday | 0 0 * * 1 | Start of workweek |
| Every Friday | 0 0 * * 5 | End of workweek |
| Every weekday | 0 0 * * 1-5 | Monday through Friday |
Conclusion
The 0 0 * * 5 expression is perfect for weekly operations that should run at the end of the workweek. It's commonly used for weekly summaries, backups, and maintenance tasks, providing closure on the business week and preparing for the weekend.
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!