onecentimeter

One centimeter, symbol cm, is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one hundredth of a meter. It is derived from the meter by the prefix centi- (10^-2).

In the International System of Units (SI), the meter is the base unit of length; the centimeter is a non-SI unit that is accepted for use with SI and is widely used for everyday measurements. This makes the centimeter a practical unit for moderate lengths in science, engineering, and daily life.

Conversions are straightforward: 1 cm equals 10 millimeters or 0.01 meters; 100 centimeters equal 1 meter, and 1 meter equals 100 centimeters. The centimeter is commonly used for measuring small objects, clothing dimensions, and human-scale lengths in many countries.

Historically, the centimeter developed along with the metric system in the late 18th century in France. Its exact value is defined by the meter, so 1 cm is precisely 0.01 meters.

Common uses include measuring the width of small objects, the height of a person in centimeters in many regions, and in scientific contexts where centimeters provide a convenient scale between millimeters and meters. For finer measurements, millimeters or micrometers are used. Related units include the millimeter and the meter, as well as conversions to inches for non-metric contexts.