m2

m2, commonly written with a superscript in formal text but often appearing as m2 in plain text, denotes the square meter, the SI unit of area. It is the area of a square whose sides are one meter long. In practical use, m2 is used to express surface areas such as floor space, land plots, or the size of objects. One square meter equals 10,000 square centimeters and is a standard unit in construction, engineering, and geography.

M2 (capital M, number 2) is a macroeconomic term for a broad money-supply measure used by central banks. It usually includes M1 plus near-money assets such as savings deposits, money market deposit accounts, and small-denomination time deposits, as well as retail money market mutual funds in some countries. Definitions vary by country, and the components may change over time. Analysts monitor M2 to gauge liquidity conditions, assess monetary policy, and gauge potential inflationary pressure.

Other uses of the term include M.2, a widely adopted form factor for internal computer expansion cards and high-speed solid-state drives; it is spelled with a dot (M.2) and is not to be confused with the unit m2. In biology, M2 refers to a macrophage activation state associated with tissue repair and anti-inflammatory functions.