Cron Expression: Every Sunday at Midnight (0 0 * * 0)
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Cron Expression: Every Sunday at Midnight (0 0 * * 0)
The cron expression 0 0 * * 0 executes a task every Sunday at midnight (00:00), making it ideal for weekly maintenance, reports, and tasks that should run at the start of each week.
Expression Breakdown
0 0 * * 0
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ └─── Day of week: 0 (Sunday)
│ │ │ └───── 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 | 0 | Sunday (0 or 7) |
Note: In some systems, Sunday can be represented as 0 or 7. Both are valid.
Execution Time
This expression runs once per week at:
- Sunday 00:00 (midnight)
Common Use Cases
1. Weekly Reports
0 0 * * 0 /usr/bin/python3 /scripts/generate-weekly-report.py
Generate weekly analytics reports or summaries.
2. Weekly Backups
0 0 * * 0 /usr/local/bin/weekly-backup.sh
Create full weekly backups of databases or systems.
3. Weekly Maintenance
0 0 * * 0 /usr/local/bin/weekly-maintenance.sh
Run weekly database optimization, cleanup, or maintenance tasks.
4. Weekly Data Processing
0 0 * * 0 /usr/bin/python3 /scripts/process-weekly-data.py
Process weekly data batches or aggregations.
Example Implementations
Weekly Report Script
# generate-weekly-report.py
import json
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
import sqlite3
def generate_weekly_report():
conn = sqlite3.connect('/var/data/app.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()
# Get data from last week
end_date = datetime.now()
start_date = end_date - timedelta(days=7)
cursor.execute('''
SELECT
COUNT(*) as total_requests,
AVG(response_time) as avg_response_time,
COUNT(CASE WHEN status_code >= 400 THEN 1 END) as errors,
COUNT(DISTINCT user_id) as unique_users
FROM requests
WHERE timestamp >= ? AND timestamp < ?
''', (start_date, end_date))
metrics = cursor.fetchone()
report = {
'week_start': start_date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),
'week_end': end_date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),
'metrics': {
'total_requests': metrics[0],
'avg_response_time': round(metrics[1], 2) if metrics[1] else 0,
'errors': metrics[2],
'unique_users': metrics[3]
}
}
with open(f'/var/reports/weekly_{start_date.strftime("%Y%m%d")}.json', 'w') as f:
json.dump(report, f, indent=2)
print(f"{datetime.now()}: Weekly report generated")
conn.close()
if __name__ == '__main__':
generate_weekly_report()
Best Practices
- Week Start: Sunday midnight marks the start of a new 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 reports
- Weekly backups
- Weekly maintenance
- Weekly data processing
- Start-of-week operations
❌ Avoid for:
- Real-time critical operations
- Tasks requiring more frequent execution
Related Patterns
| Pattern | Expression | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Every Sunday | 0 0 * * 0 | Start of week |
| Every Monday | 0 0 * * 1 | First weekday |
| Every Friday | 0 0 * * 5 | End of week |
Conclusion
The 0 0 * * 0 expression is perfect for weekly operations that should run at the start of each week. It's commonly used for weekly reports, backups, and maintenance tasks, providing a clean weekly cycle for recurring operations.
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!