Definition and examples The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit used to measure sound level. It is also widely used in electronics, signals and communication. The dB is a logarithmic way of describing a ratio. The ratio may be power, sound pressure, voltage or intensity or several other things. Later on we relate dB to the phon and to the sone, which measures loudness. But first, to get a taste for logarithmic expressions, let's look at some numbers. (If you have forgotten, go to What is a ... A decibel meter is used to measure sound levels and is commonly employed in various applications. These are the following uses of decibel meter: Noise Pollution Monitoring: Decibel meters are used to measure and monitor noise levels in urban areas, industrial areas, construction sites and other environments to identify pollution issues. Logarithmic unit used to describe ratios of signal levels - like power or intensity - to a reference level. Decibels - HyperPhysics ... Decibels