kill

Stop a process from running, either via a signal or forced termination.

SYNTAX
      kill [-s sigspec] [-n signum] [-sigspec] jobspec or pid
      kill -l [exit_status]

key
   -l  :  List the signal names
   -s  :  Send a specific signal
   -n  :  Send a specific signal number

Send a signal specified by sigspec or signum to the process named by job specification jobspec or process ID pid.

sigspec is either a signal name such as SIGINT (with or without the SIG prefix) or a signal number; signum is a signal number.

If sigspec and signum are not present, SIGTERM is used (Terminate).

If any arguments are supplied when `-l' is given, the names of the signals corresponding to the arguments are listed, and the return status is zero. exit_status is a number specifying a signal number or the exit status of a process terminated by a signal.

The return status is zero if at least one signal was successfully sent, or non-zero if an error occurs or an invalid option is encountered.

List the running process
$ ps
PID TTY TIME CMD
1293 pts/5 00:00:00 MyProgram

Then Kill it
$ kill 1293
[2]+ Terminated MyProgram

To run a command and then kill it after 5 seconds:

   my_command & sleep 5 
   kill -0 $! && kill $!

"Whom the gods love dies young" - Menander 300 BC

Related commands:

ps - List running processes (returns PID)
jobs - List your own processes (returns Job No.)
bg - Put a process in the background
fg- Put a process in the foreground
wait -
disown -
suspend -