What command do you use to stop a running Docker container?

The command to stop a running Docker container is "docker stop." This command sends a signal to the container's main process, requesting it to terminate gracefully. By default, Docker gives the process a specific time frame (10 seconds) to clean up and terminate before it forcefully kills the container. This approach allows for any necessary cleanup operations, such as saving state or closing connections, to occur before the container is stopped.

Using "docker stop" is crucial because it ensures that the applications running inside the container have the opportunity to shut down properly, reducing the risk of data corruption or other issues that may arise from an abrupt termination.

In contrast, other options like "docker halt," "docker end," and "docker exit" do not represent valid Docker commands for stopping a container. "docker halt" and "docker end" are not recognized commands in Docker's CLI, while "docker exit" refers to exiting the Docker command line interface rather than managing container states. Understanding the correct command helps ensure effective container management and operational integrity.