SIcompatible

SIcompatible is an attribute used in technical contexts to indicate that a device, system, dataset, or interface is compatible with the International System of Units (SI). It does not refer to a formal certification, but rather to the expectation that measurements and outputs are expressed in SI units or in units that can be unambiguously converted to SI units. Common SI units include metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, and candela, and SI prefixes such as milli-, micro-, and kilo- are used to express magnitudes.

In practice, SIcompatibility appears in product specifications, testing reports, software libraries, and scientific instrumentation. Hardware such as sensors, multimeters, and meters may provide readings directly in SI units (for example meters, kilograms, seconds) and include configurable or mandatory conversions to non-SI units if required, with clear labeling. Software and data formats may annotate quantities with unit metadata to ensure consistency and facilitate automated unit conversions.

The concept emphasizes interoperability and traceability to the global measurement system. While many jurisdictions require measurements to be traceable to SI for regulatory or trade purposes, there is no universal formal certification named "SIcompatible." Instead, industry standards often define precise requirements for unit usage and metadata. When evaluating a product or dataset described as SIcompatible, users should verify which SI units are used, what conversions are available, and how unit uncertainty and calibration are handled.

See also: International System of Units, BIPM, ISO/IEC unit standards, SI prefixes, measurement traceability.