Defining and Running Cron Jobs
Laravel's scheduler doesn't replace cron — it sits on top of it. The system crontab still triggers schedule:run every minute; Laravel then decides what actually executes.
How the Two Connect
Cron itself is a very blunt tool: an entry runs at whatever time is specified, with no knowledge of the application. Laravel's scheduler adds a readable, application-aware layer on top so cron only needs one line.
Common Frequency Methods
| Method | Runs |
|---|---|
| ->everyMinute() | Every minute |
| ->hourly() | Once per hour |
| ->daily() | Once per day at midnight |
| ->dailyAt('13:00') | Once per day at a specific time |
| ->weeklyOn(1, '8:00') | Every Monday at 8am |
Testing Without Waiting
php artisan schedule:run
php artisan schedule:listschedule:list is especially useful for confirming exactly when each defined task is next due to run.
With the scheduling mechanics clear, the final piece is looking at what can actually be scheduled — including quick closures, not just full Artisan commands.
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