What command is used to stop a running Docker container?

The command used to stop a running Docker container is "docker stop." This command sends a SIGTERM signal to the main process inside the container, giving it the opportunity to gracefully terminate. If the process does not stop within a specified timeout (default is 10 seconds), Docker then sends a SIGKILL signal to forcefully terminate the container. This two-step approach allows applications to clean up resources or complete ongoing tasks before shutting down, which is important for maintaining data integrity and performance.

The other options are not valid Docker commands for stopping a container. "docker halt" and "docker end" do not exist as Docker commands, while "docker exit" would not apply to stopping a running container; it's more relevant to exit a shell session within a container, not manage the container's lifecycle. Understanding the correct command helps in effectively managing containers and ensuring that applications can be stopped safely.