matís

Matës is a measuring instrument used to determine the magnitude of a physical quantity. In Albanian, the term derives from the verb mat, meaning to measure, and it can refer to any device that indicates, records, or compares a quantity with a reference.

Matës devices range from simple scales and rulers to sophisticated electronic instruments. Most matës include a sensor or transducer, a display or indicator, and, in many cases, a scale or digital readout. They may require power and calibration to maintain accuracy.

Common categories include electrical matës (voltmeter, ammeter, multimeter), mechanical matës (ruler, caliper, pressure gauge), thermal matës (thermometer, thermocouple-based sensors), fluid matës (flow meters, level meters), and metrology instruments for mass (balance and scale). These devices illustrate the breadth of measuring tools used to quantify physical properties.

Matës play a central role in science, industry, healthcare, and daily life, enabling measurement, quality control, and safety. Precision and accuracy depend on proper calibration, traceability to standards, and appropriate measurement procedures. Metrology, the broader field, studies the theory and practice of measurement, including the development of standards and calibration methods. Historically, measuring tools evolved from artifact-based references to unified systems of units; the modern International System of Units (SI) defines base units and derived units used across matës.