title: Difference between `docker-compose down` and Ctrl + C
body: <p>Assume, you run a multi-container Docker application which consists of a database-container and an application-container. What is the difference between the following two methods to shut it down:</p>
  
  <p><strong>First method</strong><br/>
  1. Open a terminal and start the application with <code>docker-compose up</code>.<br/>
  2. Shut the application down with <code>Ctrl + C</code>.
  <br/><br/>
  <strong>Second method</strong><br/>
  1. Open a terminal and start the application with <code>docker-compose up</code>.<br/>
  2. Open a second terminal and shut the application down with <code>docker-compose down</code>.
  <br/><br/>
  In my understanding, both methods should do the exact same. However, when using the second method, I usually see some exceptions in the logs of the application that it can't connect to the database when it has already been shut down, which I otherwise don't see.<br/><br/>
  What is the recommended method?</p>