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.
Square Yard (yd²)
The square yard, or yd², is an area unit from the imperial system. It is the area of a square with one-yard sides and equals 9 square feet or 0.836127 square meters. Used first in England, the square yard was set as a standard in the 1900s. It is still used in the US and UK, particularly for real estate, carpets, fabrics, and sports fields. While most of the world now uses square meters, the square yard is still recognized and used in certain professions.