Brittleness is a material property that describes how easily a substance can break or shatter when subjected to stress or force. Brittle materials, such as glass or ceramics, tend to fracture without significant deformation, meaning they do not bend or stretch before breaking. This characteristic makes them less suitable for applications where flexibility and resilience are required. In contrast to ductile materials, which can absorb energy and deform before breaking, brittle materials fail suddenly and often unpredictably. Understanding brittleness is crucial in fields like engineering and construction, where selecting the right materials can prevent structural failures and ensure safety.