This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Lucas Pereira de Souza
## Installing and Using Cron in Node.js: Create Recurring Tasks and Automate Processes
Automating tasks is crucial for any application. In Node.js, you can easily schedule the execution of functions and scripts using libraries like node-cron. This article explores how to install, configure, and use node-cron to create recurring tasks, with a practical example of reminders.
Installing node-cron
Installing node-cron is simple. Use the npm (Node Package Manager) package manager in your terminal:
npm install node-cron
Creating Recurring Tasks
With node-cron installed, you can start scheduling your tasks. The library uses a cron-based syntax to define how often tasks should be executed. The basic syntax is:
* * * * * *
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ └─ Day of the week (0 - 7, where 0 and 7 represent Sunday)
│ │ │ │ └─ Month (1 - 12)
│ │ │ └─ Day of the month (1 - 31)
│ │ └─ Hour (0 - 23)
│ └─ Minute (0 - 59)
└─ Second (0 - 59)
Examples:
-
'0 0 * * *': Executes the task at midnight (00:00) every day. -
'0 12 * * 1-5': Executes the task at noon (12:00) from Monday to Friday. -
'*/10 * * * *': Executes the task every 10 minutes.
Implementation:
const cron = require('node-cron');
// Function to be executed
const task = () => {
console.log('Task running at ' + new Date().toLocaleString());
};
// Scheduling the task to run every minute
cron.schedule('* * * * *', task);
console.log('Task scheduled!');
Example: Reminder System
Let's create a practical example of a reminder system that sends notifications.
const cron = require('node-cron');
// Function to send the reminder (simulation)
const sendReminder = (message) => {
console.log(`Reminder: ${message} - ${new Date().toLocaleString()}`);
// Here you can add logic to send notifications (e-mail, SMS, etc.)
};
// Scheduling a reminder
cron.schedule('0 9 * * *', () => { // Runs every day at 9 am
sendReminder('Reminder: Important meeting in 30 minutes!');
});
cron.schedule('30 14 * * 1-5', () => { // Runs from Monday to Friday at 2:30 pm
sendReminder('Reminder: Time for the weekly report!');
});
console.log('Reminder system started!');
In this example:
- We import
node-cron. - We create the
sendReminderfunction, which simulates sending a reminder. In the real world, you would use this function to send emails, push notifications, etc. - We schedule two reminders: one for an important meeting and another for a weekly report.
Final Considerations
- Error Handling: Implement error handling within your scheduled tasks to ensure that failures do not interrupt the scheduling.
- Logs: Use logs to monitor the execution of your tasks and troubleshoot problems.
- Persistence: For tasks that need to be executed even when the application is offline, consider using external task scheduling tools (such as an operating system cron job).
- Testing: Test your scheduled tasks to ensure they are working as expected.
With node-cron, you have a powerful tool to automate tasks in your Node.js applications. Start using and optimizing your processes today!
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Lucas Pereira de Souza
Lucas Pereira de Souza | Sciencx (2025-10-17T16:15:46+00:00) node-cron for scheduled jobs. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/10/17/node-cron-for-scheduled-jobs/
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