SIGSTOP Signal Explained (Signal 19)

What the Linux SIGSTOP signal does and when it's used.

Published October 23, 2026

SIGSTOP (signal number 19) pauses (suspends) a process, which can later be resumed; like SIGKILL, it cannot be caught or ignored.

Key points

  • Different from terminating — the process stays in memory in a suspended state until resumed
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