Soft-interlayer solid-state welds that join stronger base metals have unique mechanical properties that are of fundamental interest and may be of critical importance to designers. This article discusses the mechanical properties of soft-interlayer solid-state welds and the implications of these behaviors to service stress states and environments. It describes the tensile loading of soft-Interlayer welds in terms of the effect of interlayer thickness on stress, interlayer strain, time-dependent failure, effect of base-metal properties, and effect of interlayer fabrication method. The article concludes with a discussion on multiaxial loading.