What does area mean in math?

In math, area represents the size or total amount of space taken up by a two-dimensional surface, or the amount of space inside the boundaries of a flat object. The area may be measured in a variety of square units, such as inches, feet and meters.

If a person could perfectly count the number of one-unit by one-unit squares inside a 2D object, the number of squares counted could represent the area of the object. The calculation of area varies based on the type of shape. For example, the area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying its length by its width, while the area of a triangle is one-half times its base times its height.