Bearing capacity refers to the ability of soil to support the loads applied to the ground. It is a crucial factor in construction, as it determines how much weight a structure, like a building or bridge, can safely rest on the soil without causing settlement or failure. Engineers assess bearing capacity to ensure that foundations are designed appropriately for the specific soil conditions. There are different types of bearing capacity, including ultimate bearing capacity and allowable bearing capacity. The ultimate bearing capacity is the maximum load the soil can withstand before failure, while the allowable bearing capacity is a safe limit used in design, accounting for factors like safety and soil variability.