In US customary units modern definition, the link is exactly 66⁄100 of a US survey foot,[1] or exactly 7.92 inches or 20.1168 cm.

By correlating traditional English land measurements with the new decimal number system (which had just replaced Roman numerals), it combined ease and flexibility in taking surveying measurements in the field with ease of calculating results afterward.

As English dominions grew over time, its system of measures came to be used in many parts of the world.

When the American colonies broke their ties with Great Britain in 1776, they needed to establish a system of units that fell under their own political authority.

The one in American possession was slightly different in actual length from the British one, due to imprecision of manufacture.

Even so, the Mendenhall Order length of the yard continues in use even in 2013 in the United States as the basis for the survey foot.