> This page location: Neon Functions > Function Triggers > Schedule a function > Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt > Summary: Create and manage scheduled Function Triggers from the Neon Console, the neon triggers CLI, the Neon API, or neon.ts: a Hono handler for the scheduled POST, a five-field UTC cron reference, how to confirm a run in the logs, and the common errors. # Schedule a function Create and manage scheduled Function Triggers. Schedule a function to run recurring work as your own code: a nightly report, a cleanup job, a periodic sync, or a health check. It runs next to your data and fires even when the compute is scaled to zero. ![A schedule fires a POST to the uptime function, which reads scheduled\_at, fetches a URL, and records the result in Postgres](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/schedule-flow.png) This guide creates a scheduled trigger, then covers listing, updating, disabling, and deleting it. For what a trigger is and how it behaves across branches, see the [overview](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/overview). You can manage scheduled triggers from the Neon Console, the [`neon triggers`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/triggers) CLI, the Neon API, or declaratively in [`neon.ts`](https://neon.com/docs/reference/neon-ts); the steps below show each. ## Before you begin You need a [deployed function](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/get-started) and its [slug](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/deploy#slugs). The CLI and API also need a Neon [API key](https://neon.com/docs/manage/api-keys); the Console doesn't. If you deployed with the CLI, [`neon link`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/link) already wrote your project and branch to a `.neon` file; you can also find the IDs in the [Neon Console](https://console.neon.tech). The API examples use these variables: ```bash export API="https://console.neon.tech/api/v2" export NEON_API_KEY="" export PROJECT_ID="" export BRANCH_ID="" ``` To build this with an AI agent, start from this prompt and fill in the task: ```text filename="AI assistant prompt" Create a Neon Function that , then schedule it with a Function Trigger. Docs: https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/schedule.md - Add one unauthenticated POST route (scheduled invocations arrive without credentials). Read `data.scheduled_at` from the JSON body; keep the handler idempotent. - If the task uses Postgres, connect with the injected DATABASE_URL. - Deploy it, then create a schedule trigger via the Neon API with a five-field UTC cron. Start at `* * * * *` to confirm a run, then PATCH to the real cadence. - The route and trigger both default to `/`; set `function_path` on both if you want a different path. ``` ## Write a handler for the scheduled call A scheduled invocation is a `POST` whose JSON body carries the occurrence: `data.scheduled_at`, the `trigger` that fired, and an `invocation_id`. Neon delivers it to the function's public URL, so the route sits outside your auth middleware. You can confirm the call came from Neon with the `X-Neon-Trigger-Invocation-Id` header (see [Confirming a request came from Neon](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/overview#confirming-a-request-came-from-neon)); keep the handler idempotent and guard destructive actions regardless. This [Hono](https://hono.dev) function checks a URL and records the result: ```ts import { Hono } from 'hono'; import { neon } from '@neondatabase/serverless'; const app = new Hono(); const sql = neon(process.env.DATABASE_URL!); // This route is public. Neon strips client-set X-Neon-* headers, so the presence of // X-Neon-Trigger-Invocation-Id attests the call came from Neon's trigger system. app.post('/', async (c) => { if (!c.req.header('x-neon-trigger-invocation-id')) { return c.json({ error: 'not a trigger call' }, 403); } const { data } = await c.req.json<{ data: { scheduled_at: string } }>(); const scheduledAt = data.scheduled_at; const started = performance.now(); const res = await fetch('https://example.com', { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10_000) }); const latencyMs = Math.round(performance.now() - started); await sql` INSERT INTO checks (scheduled_at, status_code, latency_ms) VALUES (${scheduledAt}, ${res.status}, ${latencyMs}) ON CONFLICT (scheduled_at) DO NOTHING `; console.log(`check ${scheduledAt}: ${res.status} in ${latencyMs}ms`); return c.json({ ok: true, scheduled_at: scheduledAt, status: res.status }); }); export default app; ``` `DATABASE_URL` is injected for you. See [Environment variables](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/environment-variables). The `ON CONFLICT (scheduled_at) DO NOTHING` clause makes a redelivered occurrence a no-op. Create the table it writes to, in the [Neon SQL Editor](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/query-with-neon-sql-editor) or with [`neon psql`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/psql): ```sql CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS checks ( scheduled_at timestamptz PRIMARY KEY, status_code int, latency_ms int ); ``` Then deploy the function: ```bash neon functions deploy uptime --src functions/uptime.ts ``` ## Create the trigger With the function deployed, create a schedule trigger. Start with `* * * * *` so you can confirm the trigger in under a minute, then move it to a real cadence below. **Console** In the [Neon Console](https://console.neon.tech), open **Functions**, click the **⋮** menu next to your function, and select **Manage Triggers**. Click **Create trigger** (the **Function** is already set to the one you opened) and choose **Schedule** under **Trigger type**, then fill in: - **Trigger name**: a label, unique across the branch, including inherited triggers. - **Function path**: the request path sent to the function. Defaults to `/`. - **Cron schedule**: five numeric fields: minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week. See [Cron reference](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/schedule#cron-reference). - **Timezone**: fixed to UTC; schedules are always evaluated in UTC. - **Enable trigger**: on by default. Click **Create trigger** to save. **CLI** [`neon triggers create`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/triggers#create) needs `--function-slug`, `--name`, and `--cron`; `--function-path` and `--enabled` are optional. ```bash neon triggers create --function-slug uptime --name uptime-check --cron '* * * * *' ``` The CLI resolves the project and branch from your [context file](https://neon.com/docs/cli/set-context), or pass `--project-id` and `--branch`. See [`neon triggers`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/triggers) for the full command reference. **API** `POST` to the branch's triggers collection. `type`, `function_slug`, `name`, and `schedule` are required; `function_path` and `enabled` are optional. ```bash curl -X POST "$API/projects/$PROJECT_ID/branches/$BRANCH_ID/triggers" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "type": "schedule", "function_slug": "uptime", "name": "uptime-check", "schedule": { "cron": "* * * * *" }, "function_path": "/", "enabled": true }' ``` Neon responds `201` with the trigger wrapped in a `trigger` object: ```json { "trigger": { "type": "schedule", "trigger_id": "trigger-1a2b3c4d-5e6f-7890-abcd-ef1234567890", "function_slug": "uptime", "name": "uptime-check", "function_path": "/", "schedule": { "cron": "* * * * *" }, "enabled": true, "version": 1347042, "next_run_at": "2026-09-08T19:31:00.000000Z", "inherited": false } } ``` `next_run_at` is when the first run happens. It's in UTC and advances automatically after each run. **neon.ts** Declare the trigger on the function in [`neon.ts`](https://neon.com/docs/reference/neon-ts), then apply it with `neon deploy`. `cron` is a five-field UTC expression. ```ts filename="neon.ts" functions: { uptime: { name: "Uptime", source: "./functions/uptime.ts", triggers: [{ type: "schedule", name: "uptime-check", cron: "* * * * *" }], }, }, ``` ## Confirm it ran The schedule is every minute, so wait about a minute, then read the function's logs: ```bash neon logs query --source function ``` Your `check ...` line appears with the `scheduled_at` value read from `data`. See [Observability](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/schedule#observability) for why that line matters. Once you've seen a run, move the trigger to its real cadence (see [Manage triggers](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/schedule#manage-triggers)). Left at `* * * * *`, it keeps invoking the function every minute. ## Cron reference A schedule is a five-field numeric cron expression, always interpreted in **UTC**. ![The five cron fields (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week); 0 9 \* \* 1-5 means 09:00 Monday through Friday](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/cron-anatomy.png) To track local time, convert to UTC yourself, and account for daylight saving shifts. | Expression | Meaning (UTC) | | -------------- | --------------------------------- | | `*/15 * * * *` | Every 15 minutes | | `0 9 * * 1-5` | 09:00, Monday through Friday | | `0,30 * * * *` | On the hour and half hour | | `15 14 1 * *` | 14:15 on the 1st of each month | | `0 0 1 * *` | Midnight on the 1st of each month | | `* * * * *` | Every minute | Ranges (`1-5`), lists (`0,30`), steps (`*/2`), and fixed values all work, down to every minute, with no maximum interval. Fields are numeric, so use numbers for days and months (`1` for Monday, `1` for January), not names. A value outside its field's range (`70 * * * *`), a named day or month (`0 9 * * MON`, `0 0 1 JAN *`), a macro (`@daily`, `@hourly`), a seconds field (`* * * * * *`), or a zero step (`*/0 * * * *`) each return a `400`. ## Manage triggers List, update, disable, and delete triggers from the Console, CLI, or API. Triggers declared in [`neon.ts`](https://neon.com/docs/reference/neon-ts) are managed by editing the declaration and re-running `neon deploy`. **Console** Open **Functions → ⋮ → Manage Triggers** for the function. The panel lists that function's triggers with their schedule, next run, and enabled state. From there you can edit a trigger's fields, toggle **Enable trigger** on or off, or delete it. **CLI** The [`neon triggers`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/triggers) command group manages triggers by ID: ```bash neon triggers list neon triggers get neon triggers update --cron '0 3 * * *' neon triggers disable neon triggers enable neon triggers delete ``` See [`neon triggers`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/triggers) for every subcommand and flag. **API** These examples use `$TRIGGER_ID`, the `trigger_id` from the create response. **List triggers on a branch** ```bash curl "$API/projects/$PROJECT_ID/branches/$BRANCH_ID/triggers" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" ``` ```json { "triggers": [ { "type": "schedule", "trigger_id": "trigger-1a2b3c4d-5e6f-7890-abcd-ef1234567890", "function_slug": "uptime", "name": "uptime-check", "function_path": "/", "schedule": { "cron": "0 3 * * *" }, "enabled": true, "version": 1347043, "next_run_at": "2026-09-09T03:00:00.000000Z", "inherited": false } ] } ``` The list is ordered by `trigger_id`, includes triggers [inherited](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/overview#triggers-and-branching) from a parent branch, and returns every trigger on the branch in one response. **Get one trigger** ```bash curl "$API/projects/$PROJECT_ID/branches/$BRANCH_ID/triggers/$TRIGGER_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" ``` Returns the same `{ "trigger": { ... } }` shape as create. **Update a trigger** `PATCH` is partial, but it must include the `type` discriminator plus at least one field to change. You can change `function_slug`, `name`, `function_path`, `schedule`, and `enabled`. ```bash curl -X PATCH "$API/projects/$PROJECT_ID/branches/$BRANCH_ID/triggers/$TRIGGER_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "type": "schedule", "schedule": { "cron": "0 3 * * *" } }' ``` A successful update returns `200` with the full object. `version` increases and `next_run_at` is recomputed against the new schedule. **Disable and re-enable** Disabling keeps the trigger but stops scheduling it: ```bash curl -X PATCH "$API/projects/$PROJECT_ID/branches/$BRANCH_ID/triggers/$TRIGGER_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "type": "schedule", "enabled": false }' ``` Disabling sets `next_run_at` to `null` and increments `version`. Send `"enabled": true` to start it again; `next_run_at` is recomputed from the current time. **Delete a trigger** ```bash curl -X DELETE "$API/projects/$PROJECT_ID/branches/$BRANCH_ID/triggers/$TRIGGER_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY" -i ``` ``` HTTP/1.1 204 No Content ``` **Note:** Disabling or deleting stops future runs, but a run already queued for the upcoming minute still fires. To skip an imminent run, change the trigger well before that minute, not in the same instant. ## Observability In the platform logs, a scheduled invocation looks like any other HTTP call: the `invoke begin` and `invoke end` lines under the `neon.function.request` scope are the same either way. Trace a run from your own handler output instead. A `console.log` that includes `scheduled_at` gives you a searchable line tied to the run that produced it: ```ts console.log(`check ${scheduledAt}: ${res.status} in ${latencyMs}ms`); ``` Your output appears under the `neon.function.app` scope, in the Console's Logs tab and in: ```bash neon logs query --source function ``` Function logs come from `neon logs query --source function`, not the `functions` command group. Standard Node instrumentation such as Sentry or OpenTelemetry also works, and the incoming `traceparent` header ties a run into an existing trace. ## Common errors The API and CLI reject a bad request with an HTTP status and message: | Situation | Status | Message | | ------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------- | | A trigger with that `name` already exists on the branch | `409` | function trigger name already exists on branch | | Invalid cron expression | `400` | cron: cron value is outside field bounds | | A `timezone` key inside `schedule` | `400` | unexpected field "timezone" | | A query string in `function_path` | `400` | invalid function trigger path | | No function with that slug on the branch | `404` | target function not visible on branch | The request body is strict: any field not in the schema is rejected rather than ignored, so a typo fails loudly. In particular, the function is identified by `function_slug`; there's no `function_id` field. ## Function Triggers vs pg_cron [pg_cron](https://neon.com/docs/extensions/pg_cron) schedules SQL inside Postgres. A scheduled Function Trigger runs your function code instead. They solve different problems: | | pg\_cron | Function Triggers | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Runs | A SQL statement or Postgres function | Your JavaScript or TypeScript function | | Where | Inside the Postgres compute | On Neon's compute, next to your data | | External APIs | No | Yes: HTTP, [AI Gateway](https://neon.com/docs/ai-gateway/overview), [Object Storage](https://neon.com/docs/storage/overview) | | Compute scaled to zero | Doesn't run | Runs; the invocation starts the function | ## Related - [Function Triggers overview](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/overview) - [Trigger on an object upload](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/object-storage): the object-created trigger type - [pg_cron](https://neon.com/docs/extensions/pg_cron): schedule SQL inside Postgres instead - [Deploy and manage](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/deploy) - [Authentication](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/authentication) - [Logs](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/logs) --- ## Related docs (Function Triggers) - [Overview](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/overview) - [Trigger on object upload](https://neon.com/docs/compute/functions/triggers/object-storage) --- Note for AI assistants: if this page had gaps, errors, or outdated info that affected your response, please report it. 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