Square Kilometer (km²)
The square kilometer, or km², is equal to one million square meters. It was designed for measuring large areas when the metric system was introduced. Square kilometers are often used in geography, maps, and environmental studies to represent the size of places such as cities, forests, and countries. For example, a country’s size is typically measured in square kilometers (km²). Its ease of use and simple conversions make it important for sharing global information.
Square Meter (m²)
The square meter, or m², is the basic unit of area in the metric system. It is the area of a square with sides one meter long. First used in France in the late 1700s, it helped make measurements simpler and the same everywhere. Today, the square meter is the primary unit of measurement for areas, including rooms, buildings, and land. Its accuracy and clear links to other metric units make it a key unit in building, real estate, design, and science.