What is the outcome of running 'docker stop [container_id]'?

Running 'docker stop [container_id]' sends a SIGTERM signal to the specified running container, allowing it to terminate gracefully. This means that the container is given the opportunity to clean up resources, finish any ongoing processes, and shut down in an orderly manner.

If the container does not respond to the SIGTERM signal within a default timeout period, Docker will then send a SIGKILL signal to forcefully stop the container. The graceful stop is important because it can prevent data loss or corruption that might occur if a container stops abruptly.

This behavior is different from other actions you might take with Docker commands. For example, removing a container requires a separate command, and starting a container is an entirely different operation. Similarly, pausing a container is associated with suspending operations rather than stopping it, and it does not involve the graceful termination process that 'docker stop' ensures. This makes 'docker stop [container_id]' specifically designed to facilitate a safe and orderly shutdown of running containers.