Which term describes the ability of a metal to withstand extensive permanent deformation without breaking?

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Plasticity describes how much permanent, non-recoverable deformation a metal can undergo before it fractures. After yielding, if a metal is shaped or bent, the deformation remains even when the load is removed, and a highly plastic (ductile) metal can undergo substantial deformation without breaking. Elasticity, by contrast, is about deformation that disappears when the load is removed. Hardness relates to resistance to indentation, not how much it can permanently deform. Strength concerns how much stress a material can bear before failing, not the total permanent deformation it can sustain. So, the ability to withstand extensive permanent deformation without breaking is plasticity.