The international name for the eight-sided red sign requiring drivers to stop is the STOP sign.
A stop sign requires a driver to bring the vehicle to a complete halt at the marked stop line, or at the appropriate point if no line is present. After stopping, the driver must proceed only when it is safe and legally permitted. The sign is used to control priority at junctions and other locations where a definite stop is needed.
Its octagonal shape is distinctive: even when the face is obscured by snow, darkness, or damage, the outline can identify it as a stop sign. Red and white lettering also make the sign recognizable across many countries, although wording, script, and exact design vary.
A stop sign differs from a yield or give-way sign, which requires drivers to give priority but does not always require a complete stop. The United States and many other countries use the English word “STOP,” while some jurisdictions use local-language equivalents.