What is the deflection of a spring?

Spring deflection is referred as the action of an extension spring, compression spring, or torsion spring, when a force or load is applied or released. This also known as spring travel.

The distance between the pre-loaded position and the loaded position or length is referred to as the distance of travel. This distance traveled is exactly referred as spring deflection. In all the aforementioned spring types the deflection is inflicted in different ways. In the compression spring (the spring is pushed), in torsion spring (torque is applied radially), and in an extension spring (the spring is pulled). Whether the spring is pulled, pushed, or torqued, the spring deflection is directly related to the spring rate.