A deciliter (dL) is a metric unit of volume that is equal to one-tenth of a liter. It is commonly used in various fields, including cooking, nutrition, and science, to measure liquids. For example, a standard cup holds about 2.4 deciliters of water. In the context of nutrition, deciliters are often used to indicate the volume of beverages or ingredients in food labels. Understanding deciliters can help individuals accurately measure portions, especially when following recipes or monitoring fluid intake, such as in the case of diabetes management.