Cron recipe
Cron job every 2 minutes: the exact expression
The expression
*/2 * * * *Paste it into crontab -e, your platform cron config, or tool.crontap.com/cronjob-debugger to preview the next runs.
What it does
Runs at minutes 0, 2, 4, … 58. The `*/2` step in the minute field means every second minute from the top of the hour.
When to use it
Light polling
Pull webhook outbox status or a small SaaS API without hammering it every minute.
Queue drain helpers
Kick a worker that processes a shallow backlog when you do not need sub-minute latency.
Common variations
1-59/2 * * * *Every 2 minutes starting at :01 instead of :00 (offset pattern).
Run this with Crontap
External HTTP cron hits your URL on this schedule, stores every response, and emails you when a run fails. No daemon on the box, no drift when the server reboots. Pro schedules down to a 1-minute cadence; $3.25/mo annual flat for unlimited jobs.
Related recipes
- every minute
* * * * * - every 5 minutes
*/5 * * * * - every 10 minutes
*/10 * * * * - every 15 minutes
*/15 * * * *
More patterns in the cron syntax cheat sheet and what is a cron job in Linux.
FAQ
- What is the cron expression for every 2 minutes?
- Use */2 * * * * (standard five-field cron). Verify the next run times in the free cron debugger before you deploy.
- Can Crontap run this schedule?
- Yes. Crontap fires five-field expressions on your chosen cadence (1-minute floor on Pro), with per-schedule IANA timezones, retries, and failure alerts. Pro is $3.25/mo billed annually.