Final answer:
Welding is the process where workpieces are heated until their melting point to join them, involving the melting of the base metal itself. In contrast, brazing and soldering use a filler material melted at lower temperatures without melting the base metals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process described, where workpieces are heated until their melting point to join them, is known as welding. Welding is a fabrication process that joins metal materials by melting the workpieces and usually adding a filler material to form a strong joint. The process often uses different sources of fuel or energy such as gas, electricity, or laser. Notable historical use of the process includes forge welding, which blacksmiths have been employing for millennia to join iron and steel pieces.
Compared to other methods like brazing and soldering, welding is distinct because it involves the melting of the base metal itself, not just a filler material. Brazing and soldering, on the other hand, melt a separate alloy to create the bond between the pieces at a lower temperature without melting the base metals.