Deziliter

Deziliter is a unit of volume in the metric system. It is equal to one tenth of a liter, or 0.1 L, and corresponds to 100 milliliters or 100 cubic centimeters. Its symbol is commonly written as dL, though some sources use dl.

The name combines the prefix deci-, meaning one tenth, with liter. The liter itself is a metric unit defined as the volume of a cubic decimeter. The deciliter is a derived unit within the liter-based system and is commonly used in everyday measurements in many countries.

Usage of the deciliter is widespread in cooking, beverage sizes, and nutritional labeling in various European and Latin American countries. It provides a convenient scale for measuring moderate volumes without resorting to liters, while being more readable than milliliters in certain contexts.

Conversions are straightforward: 1 dl equals 0.1 L, which equals 100 mL or 100 cm³. For example, a 2-liter bottle holds 20 deciliters.

History and context: The liter was defined in the late 18th century as the volume of one cubic decimeter. The SI prefixes, including deci-, were formalized in the 20th century, giving the deciliter a stable standing as a commonly used unit alongside liters in many measurement systems.