What is a scheduled task for automated execution in Unix-like systems called?

A scheduled task for automated execution in Unix-like systems is called a cron job. This term is derived from the 'cron' daemon, which is a background process that allows users to schedule scripts or commands to run automatically at specified intervals or times. Users can set up cron jobs by modifying the crontab (cron table), which contains the schedule and commands to be executed.

The flexibility of cron jobs makes them suitable for various tasks, such as system maintenance, backups, monitoring services, or any repetitive task that needs to be automated at specific times or intervals. The ability to configure cron jobs with precise timing, down to the minute, is one of the key advantages of using this system for scheduling automated tasks. Other options do not capture this specific functionality of Unix-like systems as accurately as the term "cron job."