A square decimeter (often abbreviated as dm²) is a unit of area in the International System of Units (SI). It represents a square with sides that each measure 1 decimeter (10 centimeters) in length.
One square decimeter is equal to 0.01 square meters (m²) because each side of the square is 10 centimeters long, and when you square that length, you get 0.01 square meters.
To put it in perspective, a square decimeter is a relatively small unit of area. It is often used for measuring small areas, such as the surface area of small objects, pieces of paper, or the dimensions of certain materials in scientific and technical contexts.