What best describes elastic strain?

Elastic strain refers to the type of deformation that occurs in materials when they are subjected to stress, provided that the stress does not exceed a certain threshold known as the elastic limit. When a material is within this elastic limit, it will return to its original shape and size when the external load is removed. This characteristic behavior is crucial in engineering, where materials are often subjected to forces; understanding elastic strain helps in designing safe structures and components.

By demonstrating that a material experiences stretching but remains within the elastic limit, it is clear that the deformation is temporary and entirely reversible. This differs fundamentally from other descriptions of strain where the material may undergo permanent changes or fail. In this context, it is important to recognize that elastic strain is a desired property in materials for applications that require reliability and resilience under load.