Why is it that the two possible faults wit inductors are short circuit and open circuit

Short circuit and an open circuit are the two most common type of faults in inductors and also in resistors, generators and transformers. An open circuit type of  fault would refer to the flow of current that is disrupted somehow in a certain circuit and the circuit would stop its operation. On the other hand, short circuit type of fault is when the current flowing in the system would be much higher than the normal. This short circuit current or the fault current would run back to the location of the fault. If an inductor would experience short circuit, then the fault current would only run through it since it would be able to provide a very low impedence path.