Length, measured in meters, is a fundamental unit in the metric system used to quantify how long or wide an object is. One meter is equivalent to 100 centimeters or approximately 39.37 inches. It is commonly used in various fields, including science, engineering, and everyday life, to provide a standard way to measure distance. The meter was originally defined in the late 18th century as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. Today, it is defined based on the speed of light, where one meter is the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds. This precise definition ensures consistency in measurements worldwide.