What is the ability of metal to withstand permanent deformation without breaking or rupturing?

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Plasticity is the ability of a metal to undergo permanent deformation without breaking. When stress pushes a metal beyond its elastic limit, it doesn’t snap back to its original shape; the distortion remains, which is the essence of plastic deformation. Elasticity would mean the material returns to its original form once the load is removed, so that isn’t describing permanent deformation. Strain is simply a measure of how much deformation occurs, not the material’s capacity to deform permanently. Yield strength is the stress at which permanent deformation begins, not the property itself. Ductility relates to how much plastic deformation a material can undergo before fracturing, but the question’s focus on permanent deformation without rupture points to plasticity as the correct concept.