What is the primary difference between docker stop and docker kill?

The primary difference between the two commands lies in how they terminate running containers. When you use the command to stop a container, it sends a SIGTERM signal, allowing the application running inside the container to shut down gracefully. This means that the container can handle the termination request, saving any state or performing cleanup operations before it is stopped completely.

In contrast, the kill command sends a SIGKILL signal to the process, which immediately terminates it without giving the application any chance to close gracefully. This can lead to data loss or other issues if the application is not designed to handle sudden terminations.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for managing containers effectively, especially in production environments where it's often necessary to ensure that applications are given the chance to shut down properly to avoid data corruption or additional complications. The other options incorrectly describe the functions of these commands, misrepresenting what "stop" and "kill" do in Docker context.