What is described as a rated assembly that extends from the foundation through the roof of a building to limit flame spread?

A fire wall is specifically designed as a rated assembly that extends from the foundation through the roof of a building, with the primary purpose of limiting flame spread between different sections of the building or preventing the fire from extending beyond it. This type of wall is constructed using materials that have been tested for their ability to resist fire for a specified duration, ensuring it can contain any flames or heat on one side of the wall for that period, thereby protecting the integrity of the structure and allowing for safe egress for occupants.

Other types of walls, such as load-bearing walls, interior walls, and shear walls, serve different functions within a building's architecture and do not have the same fire containment properties as fire walls. Load-bearing walls primarily support the structure, interior walls are used for partitioning spaces within the building, and shear walls are designed to resist lateral forces (like wind or seismic activity) but do not specifically focus on limiting flame spread. Thus, the fire wall stands out as the best fit for the definition provided in the question.