What property allows a material to be shaped and formed without breaking?

Malleability is the property of a material that enables it to be shaped and formed, typically by processes such as rolling or hammering, without fracturing. It is a key characteristic of metals and allows them to be transformed into thin sheets or various shapes while maintaining integrity. Malleable materials can undergo substantial deformation under compressive stress, which makes them suitable for applications where a material needs to be shaped into complex forms without losing their structural integrity.

Ductility, while related, specifically refers to a material's ability to deform under tensile stress, allowing it to be stretched into wires. Plasticity is the ability of a material to undergo permanent deformation without breaking, which is a broader concept encompassing both malleability and ductility, but it does not exclusively refer to the shaping capability (which is more specific to malleability). Hardness, on the other hand, is indicative of a material's resistance to deformation or penetration, which does not relate directly to the ability to shape the material without breaking. Thus, malleability is the most accurate term for the context of shaping and forming materials without breaking.