What does the term 'malleability' in metals refer to?

Malleability refers to a material's ability to deform under compressive stress, allowing it to be hammered or pressed into thin sheets without breaking. This property is especially prominent in metals, which can change shape while maintaining their integrity. Malleable metals can be shaped into flat sheets, making them useful for various applications, such as in construction and manufacturing.

The other options describe different properties of materials: electrical conductivity and ductility relate to how materials interact with electricity and can be shaped into wires, respectively, while corrosion resistance pertains to a material's durability against environmental degradation. These properties are important but distinct from malleability, which specifically relates to the ability to shape metals through deformation.