Abrupt termination of magnetically confined plasma, often due to a large increase of instability. During disruption, particles and energy are released from confinement and thrown against the vessel wall, which can lead to damage. Sometimes electrons can be accelerated to a dangerously high velocity (so-called runaway electrons), which can also lead to damage. Anticipating the disruption is attempted to prevent it by appropriate parameter settings, and if disruption is unavoidable, at least release the energy contained in the plasma safely so that the vacuum vessel is not damaged.