Deprecate metric/unit and use a string for units in the metric API/SDK (#3776)

* Replace Unit from metric/unit with string Deprecate the units package. This package will not be included in the metric GA. * Add changes to changelog
2025-10-31 00:07:40 +02:00 · 2023-02-27 08:10:56 -08:00
parent 17e5d0f549
commit fe6856e804
31 changed files with 148 additions and 212 deletions
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm

 - [bridge/ot] Fall-back to TextMap carrier when it's not ot.HttpHeaders. (#3679)
 - The `Collect` method of the `"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric".Reader` interface is updated to accept the `metricdata.ResourceMetrics` value the collection will be made into. This change is made to enable memory reuse by SDK users. (#3732)
+- The `WithUnit` option in `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/instrument` is updated to accept a `string` for the unit value. (#3776)

 ### Fixed

@@ -51,6 +52,14 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 - Data race issue in OTLP exporter retry mechanism. (#3756)
 - Fixes wrapping a nil error in some cases (#????)

+### Deprecated
+
+- The `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit` package is deprecated.
+  Use the equivalent unit string instead. (#3776)
+  - Use `"1"` instead of `unit.Dimensionless`
+  - Use `"By"` instead of `unit.Bytes`
+  - Use `"ms"` instead of `unit.Milliseconds`
+
 ## [1.13.0/0.36.0] 2023-02-07

 ### Added
--- a/bridge/opencensus/go.mod
+++ b/bridge/opencensus/go.mod
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.2
 	go.opencensus.io v0.24.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.13.0
-	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v0.36.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk v1.13.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric v0.36.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.13.0
@@ -19,6 +18,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/golang/groupcache v0.0.0-20200121045136-8c9f03a8e57e // indirect
 	github.com/kr/pretty v0.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v0.36.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/sys v0.5.0 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/check.v1 v1.0.0-20190902080502-41f04d3bba15 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
--- a/bridge/opencensus/internal/ocmetric/metric.go
+++ b/bridge/opencensus/internal/ocmetric/metric.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	ocmetricdata "go.opencensus.io/metric/metricdata"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 )

@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ func ConvertMetrics(ocmetrics []*ocmetricdata.Metric) ([]metricdata.Metrics, err
 		otelMetrics = append(otelMetrics, metricdata.Metrics{
 			Name:        ocm.Descriptor.Name,
 			Description: ocm.Descriptor.Description,
-			Unit:        convertUnit(ocm.Descriptor.Unit),
+			Unit:        string(ocm.Descriptor.Unit),
 			Data:        agg,
 		})
 	}
@@ -201,16 +200,3 @@ func convertAttrs(keys []ocmetricdata.LabelKey, values []ocmetricdata.LabelValue
 	}
 	return attribute.NewSet(attrs...), nil
 }
-
-// convertUnit converts from the OpenCensus unit to OpenTelemetry unit.
-func convertUnit(u ocmetricdata.Unit) unit.Unit {
-	switch u {
-	case ocmetricdata.UnitDimensionless:
-		return unit.Dimensionless
-	case ocmetricdata.UnitBytes:
-		return unit.Bytes
-	case ocmetricdata.UnitMilliseconds:
-		return unit.Milliseconds
-	}
-	return unit.Unit(string(u))
-}
--- a/bridge/opencensus/internal/ocmetric/metric_test.go
+++ b/bridge/opencensus/internal/ocmetric/metric_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	ocmetricdata "go.opencensus.io/metric/metricdata"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata/metricdatatest"
 )
@@ -214,7 +213,7 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 				{
 					Name:        "foo.com/histogram-a",
 					Description: "a testing histogram",
-					Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+					Unit:        "1",
 					Data: metricdata.Histogram{
 						DataPoints: []metricdata.HistogramDataPoint{
 							{
@@ -252,7 +251,7 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 				}, {
 					Name:        "foo.com/gauge-a",
 					Description: "an int testing gauge",
-					Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+					Unit:        "By",
 					Data: metricdata.Gauge[int64]{
 						DataPoints: []metricdata.DataPoint[int64]{
 							{
@@ -281,7 +280,7 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 				}, {
 					Name:        "foo.com/gauge-b",
 					Description: "a float testing gauge",
-					Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+					Unit:        "By",
 					Data: metricdata.Gauge[float64]{
 						DataPoints: []metricdata.DataPoint[float64]{
 							{
@@ -310,7 +309,7 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 				}, {
 					Name:        "foo.com/sum-a",
 					Description: "an int testing sum",
-					Unit:        unit.Milliseconds,
+					Unit:        "ms",
 					Data: metricdata.Sum[int64]{
 						IsMonotonic: true,
 						Temporality: metricdata.CumulativeTemporality,
@@ -341,7 +340,7 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 				}, {
 					Name:        "foo.com/sum-b",
 					Description: "a float testing sum",
-					Unit:        unit.Milliseconds,
+					Unit:        "ms",
 					Data: metricdata.Sum[float64]{
 						IsMonotonic: true,
 						Temporality: metricdata.CumulativeTemporality,
@@ -387,7 +386,7 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 				{
 					Name:        "foo.com/histogram-a",
 					Description: "a testing histogram",
-					Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+					Unit:        "1",
 					Data: metricdata.Histogram{
 						Temporality: metricdata.CumulativeTemporality,
 						DataPoints:  []metricdata.HistogramDataPoint{},
@@ -410,7 +409,7 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 				{
 					Name:        "foo.com/sum-a",
 					Description: "a testing sum",
-					Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+					Unit:        "1",
 					Data: metricdata.Sum[float64]{
 						IsMonotonic: true,
 						Temporality: metricdata.CumulativeTemporality,
@@ -434,7 +433,7 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 				{
 					Name:        "foo.com/gauge-a",
 					Description: "a testing gauge",
-					Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+					Unit:        "1",
 					Data: metricdata.Gauge[int64]{
 						DataPoints: []metricdata.DataPoint[int64]{},
 					},
@@ -580,38 +579,6 @@ func TestConvertMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func TestConvertUnits(t *testing.T) {
-	var noUnit unit.Unit
-	for _, tc := range []struct {
-		desc     string
-		input    ocmetricdata.Unit
-		expected unit.Unit
-	}{{
-		desc:     "unspecified unit",
-		expected: noUnit,
-	}, {
-		desc:     "dimensionless",
-		input:    ocmetricdata.UnitDimensionless,
-		expected: unit.Dimensionless,
-	}, {
-		desc:     "milliseconds",
-		input:    ocmetricdata.UnitMilliseconds,
-		expected: unit.Milliseconds,
-	}, {
-		desc:     "bytes",
-		input:    ocmetricdata.UnitBytes,
-		expected: unit.Bytes,
-	},
-	} {
-		t.Run(tc.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
-			output := convertUnit(tc.input)
-			if output != tc.expected {
-				t.Errorf("convertUnit(%v) = %q, want %q", tc.input, output, tc.expected)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
 func TestConvertAttributes(t *testing.T) {
 	setWithMultipleKeys := attribute.NewSet(
 		attribute.KeyValue{Key: attribute.Key("first"), Value: attribute.StringValue("1")},
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/go.mod
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/go.mod
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.2
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.13.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/internal/retry v1.13.0
-	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v0.36.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk v1.13.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric v0.36.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/proto/otlp v0.19.0
@@ -23,6 +22,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/golang/protobuf v1.5.2 // indirect
 	github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/v2 v2.7.0 // indirect
 	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v0.36.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.13.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/net v0.7.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/sys v0.5.0 // indirect
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otest/client.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otest/client.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	semconv "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.17.0"
 	collpb "go.opentelemetry.io/proto/otlp/collector/metrics/v1"
 	cpb "go.opentelemetry.io/proto/otlp/common/v1"
@@ -118,31 +117,31 @@ var (
 		{
 			Name:        "int64-gauge",
 			Description: "Gauge with int64 values",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Gauge{Gauge: gaugeInt64},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "float64-gauge",
 			Description: "Gauge with float64 values",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Gauge{Gauge: gaugeFloat64},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "int64-sum",
 			Description: "Sum with int64 values",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Sum{Sum: sumInt64},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "float64-sum",
 			Description: "Sum with float64 values",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Sum{Sum: sumFloat64},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "histogram",
 			Description: "Histogram",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Histogram{Histogram: hist},
 		},
 	}
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/transform/metricdata_test.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/transform/metricdata_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
@@ -188,49 +187,49 @@ var (
 		{
 			Name:        "int64-gauge",
 			Description: "Gauge with int64 values",
-			Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        otelGaugeInt64,
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "float64-gauge",
 			Description: "Gauge with float64 values",
-			Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        otelGaugeFloat64,
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "int64-sum",
 			Description: "Sum with int64 values",
-			Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        otelSumInt64,
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "float64-sum",
 			Description: "Sum with float64 values",
-			Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        otelSumFloat64,
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "invalid-sum",
 			Description: "Sum with invalid temporality",
-			Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        otelSumInvalid,
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "histogram",
 			Description: "Histogram",
-			Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        otelHist,
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "invalid-histogram",
 			Description: "Invalid histogram",
-			Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        otelHistInvalid,
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "unknown",
 			Description: "Unknown aggregation",
-			Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        unknownAgg,
 		},
 	}
@@ -239,31 +238,31 @@ var (
 		{
 			Name:        "int64-gauge",
 			Description: "Gauge with int64 values",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Gauge{Gauge: pbGaugeInt64},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "float64-gauge",
 			Description: "Gauge with float64 values",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Gauge{Gauge: pbGaugeFloat64},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "int64-sum",
 			Description: "Sum with int64 values",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Sum{Sum: pbSumInt64},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "float64-sum",
 			Description: "Sum with float64 values",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Sum{Sum: pbSumFloat64},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:        "histogram",
 			Description: "Histogram",
-			Unit:        string(unit.Dimensionless),
+			Unit:        "1",
 			Data:        &mpb.Metric_Histogram{Histogram: pbHist},
 		},
 	}
--- a/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/global"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
@@ -309,10 +308,10 @@ func sanitizeRune(r rune) rune {
 	return '_'
 }

-var unitSuffixes = map[unit.Unit]string{
-	unit.Dimensionless: "_ratio",
-	unit.Bytes:         "_bytes",
-	unit.Milliseconds:  "_milliseconds",
+var unitSuffixes = map[string]string{
+	"1":  "_ratio",
+	"By": "_bytes",
+	"ms": "_milliseconds",
 }

 // getName returns the sanitized name, including unit suffix.
--- a/exporters/prometheus/exporter_test.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/exporter_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	otelmetric "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/instrument"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 				counter, err := meter.Float64Counter(
 					"foo",
 					instrument.WithDescription("a simple counter"),
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Milliseconds),
+					instrument.WithUnit("ms"),
 				)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				counter.Add(ctx, 5, attrs...)
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 				gauge, err := meter.Float64UpDownCounter(
 					"bar",
 					instrument.WithDescription("a fun little gauge"),
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Dimensionless),
+					instrument.WithUnit("1"),
 				)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				gauge.Add(ctx, 1.0, attrs...)
@@ -101,7 +100,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 				histogram, err := meter.Float64Histogram(
 					"histogram_baz",
 					instrument.WithDescription("a very nice histogram"),
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 				)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				histogram.Record(ctx, 23, attrs...)
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 					"foo",
 					instrument.WithDescription("a sanitary counter"),
 					// This unit is not added to
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 				)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				counter.Add(ctx, 5, attrs...)
@@ -233,7 +232,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 				gauge, err := meter.Int64UpDownCounter(
 					"bar",
 					instrument.WithDescription("a fun little gauge"),
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Dimensionless),
+					instrument.WithUnit("1"),
 				)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				gauge.Add(ctx, 2, attrs...)
@@ -252,7 +251,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 				counter, err := meter.Int64Counter(
 					"bar",
 					instrument.WithDescription("a fun little counter"),
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 				)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				counter.Add(ctx, 2, attrs...)
@@ -366,7 +365,7 @@ func TestMultiScopes(t *testing.T) {
 	fooCounter, err := provider.Meter("meterfoo", otelmetric.WithInstrumentationVersion("v0.1.0")).
 		Int64Counter(
 			"foo",
-			instrument.WithUnit(unit.Milliseconds),
+			instrument.WithUnit("ms"),
 			instrument.WithDescription("meter foo counter"))
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	fooCounter.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "foo"))
@@ -374,7 +373,7 @@ func TestMultiScopes(t *testing.T) {
 	barCounter, err := provider.Meter("meterbar", otelmetric.WithInstrumentationVersion("v0.1.0")).
 		Int64Counter(
 			"bar",
-			instrument.WithUnit(unit.Milliseconds),
+			instrument.WithUnit("ms"),
 			instrument.WithDescription("meter bar counter"))
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	barCounter.Add(ctx, 200, attribute.String("type", "bar"))
@@ -399,13 +398,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "no_conflict_two_counters",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				fooA, err := meterA.Int64Counter("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter counter foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				fooA.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))

 				fooB, err := meterB.Int64Counter("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter counter foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				fooB.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))
@@ -416,13 +415,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "no_conflict_two_updowncounters",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				fooA, err := meterA.Int64UpDownCounter("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter gauge foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				fooA.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))

 				fooB, err := meterB.Int64UpDownCounter("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter gauge foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				fooB.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))
@@ -433,13 +432,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "no_conflict_two_histograms",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				fooA, err := meterA.Int64Histogram("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter histogram foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				fooA.Record(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))

 				fooB, err := meterB.Int64Histogram("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter histogram foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				fooB.Record(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))
@@ -450,13 +449,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "conflict_help_two_counters",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				barA, err := meterA.Int64Counter("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter a bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barA.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "bar"))

 				barB, err := meterB.Int64Counter("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter b bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barB.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "bar"))
@@ -470,13 +469,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "conflict_help_two_updowncounters",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				barA, err := meterA.Int64UpDownCounter("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter a bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barA.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "bar"))

 				barB, err := meterB.Int64UpDownCounter("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter b bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barB.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "bar"))
@@ -490,13 +489,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "conflict_help_two_histograms",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				barA, err := meterA.Int64Histogram("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter a bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barA.Record(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))

 				barB, err := meterB.Int64Histogram("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter b bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barB.Record(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))
@@ -510,13 +509,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "conflict_unit_two_counters",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				bazA, err := meterA.Int64Counter("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				bazA.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "bar"))

 				bazB, err := meterB.Int64Counter("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Milliseconds),
+					instrument.WithUnit("ms"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				bazB.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "bar"))
@@ -528,13 +527,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "conflict_unit_two_updowncounters",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				barA, err := meterA.Int64UpDownCounter("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter gauge bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barA.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "bar"))

 				barB, err := meterB.Int64UpDownCounter("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Milliseconds),
+					instrument.WithUnit("ms"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter gauge bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barB.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "bar"))
@@ -546,13 +545,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "conflict_unit_two_histograms",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				barA, err := meterA.Int64Histogram("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter histogram bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barA.Record(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))

 				barB, err := meterB.Int64Histogram("bar",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Milliseconds),
+					instrument.WithUnit("ms"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter histogram bar"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				barB.Record(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))
@@ -564,13 +563,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				counter, err := meterA.Int64Counter("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				counter.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("type", "foo"))

 				gauge, err := meterA.Int64UpDownCounter("foo_total",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				gauge.Add(ctx, 200, attribute.String("type", "foo"))
@@ -585,13 +584,13 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter",
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meterA, meterB otelmetric.Meter) {
 				fooA, err := meterA.Int64UpDownCounter("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter gauge foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				fooA.Add(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))

 				fooHistogramA, err := meterA.Int64Histogram("foo",
-					instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+					instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 					instrument.WithDescription("meter histogram foo"))
 				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				fooHistogramA.Record(ctx, 100, attribute.String("A", "B"))
--- a/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/example_test.go
+++ b/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/example_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ var (
 					{
 						Name:        "requests",
 						Description: "Number of requests received",
-						Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+						Unit:        "1",
 						Data: metricdata.Sum[int64]{
 							IsMonotonic: true,
 							Temporality: metricdata.DeltaTemporality,
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ var (
 					{
 						Name:        "latency",
 						Description: "Time spend processing received requests",
-						Unit:        unit.Milliseconds,
+						Unit:        "ms",
 						Data: metricdata.Histogram{
 							Temporality: metricdata.DeltaTemporality,
 							DataPoints: []metricdata.HistogramDataPoint{
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ var (
 					{
 						Name:        "temperature",
 						Description: "CPU global temperature",
-						Unit:        unit.Unit("cel(1 K)"),
+						Unit:        "cel(1 K)",
 						Data: metricdata.Gauge[float64]{
 							DataPoints: []metricdata.DataPoint[float64]{
 								{
--- a/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/go.mod
+++ b/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/go.mod
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ go 1.18
 require (
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.2
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.13.0
-	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v0.36.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk v1.13.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric v0.36.0
 )
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/go-logr/logr v1.2.3 // indirect
 	github.com/go-logr/stdr v1.2.2 // indirect
 	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v0.36.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.13.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/sys v0.5.0 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
--- a/metric/example_test.go
+++ b/metric/example_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/instrument"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 //nolint:govet // Meter doesn't register for go vet
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ func ExampleMeter_synchronous() {

 	workDuration, err := meterProvider.Meter("go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric#SyncExample").Int64Histogram(
 		"workDuration",
-		instrument.WithUnit(unit.Milliseconds))
+		instrument.WithUnit("ms"))
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Failed to register instrument")
 		panic(err)
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ func ExampleMeter_asynchronous_single() {

 	_, err := meter.Int64ObservableGauge(
 		"DiskUsage",
-		instrument.WithUnit(unit.Bytes),
+		instrument.WithUnit("By"),
 		instrument.WithInt64Callback(func(_ context.Context, obsrv instrument.Int64Observer) error {
 			// Do the real work here to get the real disk usage. For example,
 			//
--- a/metric/instrument/asyncfloat64.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/asyncfloat64.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"context"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 // Float64Observable describes a set of instruments used asynchronously to
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ type Float64Callback func(context.Context, Float64Observer) error
 // observe float64 values.
 type Float64ObserverConfig struct {
 	description string
-	unit        unit.Unit
+	unit        string
 	callbacks   []Float64Callback
 }

@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ func (c Float64ObserverConfig) Description() string {
 }

 // Unit returns the Config unit.
-func (c Float64ObserverConfig) Unit() unit.Unit {
+func (c Float64ObserverConfig) Unit() string {
 	return c.unit
 }

--- a/metric/instrument/asyncfloat64_test.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/asyncfloat64_test.go
@@ -22,14 +22,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 func TestFloat64ObserverOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	const (
 		token  float64 = 43
 		desc           = "Instrument description."
-		uBytes         = unit.Bytes
+		uBytes         = "By"
 	)

 	got := NewFloat64ObserverConfig(
--- a/metric/instrument/asyncint64.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/asyncint64.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"context"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 // Int64Observable describes a set of instruments used asynchronously to record
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ type Int64Callback func(context.Context, Int64Observer) error
 // observe int64 values.
 type Int64ObserverConfig struct {
 	description string
-	unit        unit.Unit
+	unit        string
 	callbacks   []Int64Callback
 }

@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ func (c Int64ObserverConfig) Description() string {
 }

 // Unit returns the Config unit.
-func (c Int64ObserverConfig) Unit() unit.Unit {
+func (c Int64ObserverConfig) Unit() string {
 	return c.unit
 }

--- a/metric/instrument/asyncint64_test.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/asyncint64_test.go
@@ -22,14 +22,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 func TestInt64ObserverOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	const (
 		token  int64 = 43
 		desc         = "Instrument description."
-		uBytes       = unit.Bytes
+		uBytes       = "By"
 	)

 	got := NewInt64ObserverConfig(
--- a/metric/instrument/instrument.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/instrument.go
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@

 package instrument // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/instrument"

-import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
-
 // Asynchronous instruments are instruments that are updated within a Callback.
 // If an instrument is observed outside of it's callback it should be an error.
 //
@@ -64,27 +62,27 @@ func (o descOpt) applyInt64Observer(c Int64ObserverConfig) Int64ObserverConfig {
 // WithDescription sets the instrument description.
 func WithDescription(desc string) Option { return descOpt(desc) }

-type unitOpt unit.Unit
+type unitOpt string

 func (o unitOpt) applyFloat64(c Float64Config) Float64Config {
-	c.unit = unit.Unit(o)
+	c.unit = string(o)
 	return c
 }

 func (o unitOpt) applyInt64(c Int64Config) Int64Config {
-	c.unit = unit.Unit(o)
+	c.unit = string(o)
 	return c
 }

 func (o unitOpt) applyFloat64Observer(c Float64ObserverConfig) Float64ObserverConfig {
-	c.unit = unit.Unit(o)
+	c.unit = string(o)
 	return c
 }

 func (o unitOpt) applyInt64Observer(c Int64ObserverConfig) Int64ObserverConfig {
-	c.unit = unit.Unit(o)
+	c.unit = string(o)
 	return c
 }

 // WithUnit sets the instrument unit.
-func WithUnit(u unit.Unit) Option { return unitOpt(u) }
+func WithUnit(u string) Option { return unitOpt(u) }
--- a/metric/instrument/syncfloat64.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/syncfloat64.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"context"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 // Float64Counter is an instrument that records increasing float64 values.
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ type Float64Histogram interface {
 // observe float64 values.
 type Float64Config struct {
 	description string
-	unit        unit.Unit
+	unit        string
 }

 // Float64Config contains options for Synchronous instruments that record
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ func (c Float64Config) Description() string {
 }

 // Unit returns the Config unit.
-func (c Float64Config) Unit() unit.Unit {
+func (c Float64Config) Unit() string {
 	return c.unit
 }

--- a/metric/instrument/syncfloat64_test.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/syncfloat64_test.go
@@ -18,15 +18,13 @@ import (
 	"testing"

 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 func TestFloat64Options(t *testing.T) {
 	const (
 		token  float64 = 43
 		desc           = "Instrument description."
-		uBytes         = unit.Bytes
+		uBytes         = "By"
 	)

 	got := NewFloat64Config(WithDescription(desc), WithUnit(uBytes))
--- a/metric/instrument/syncint64.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/syncint64.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"context"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 // Int64Counter is an instrument that records increasing int64 values.
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ type Int64Histogram interface {
 // values.
 type Int64Config struct {
 	description string
-	unit        unit.Unit
+	unit        string
 }

 // NewInt64Config returns a new Int64Config with all opts
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ func (c Int64Config) Description() string {
 }

 // Unit returns the Config unit.
-func (c Int64Config) Unit() unit.Unit {
+func (c Int64Config) Unit() string {
 	return c.unit
 }

--- a/metric/instrument/syncint64_test.go
+++ b/metric/instrument/syncint64_test.go
@@ -18,15 +18,13 @@ import (
 	"testing"

 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 )

 func TestInt64Options(t *testing.T) {
 	const (
 		token  int64 = 43
 		desc         = "Instrument description."
-		uBytes       = unit.Bytes
+		uBytes       = "By"
 	)

 	got := NewInt64Config(WithDescription(desc), WithUnit(uBytes))
--- a/metric/unit/doc.go
+++ b/metric/unit/doc.go
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@

 // Package unit provides units.
 //
-// This package is currently in a pre-GA phase. Backwards incompatible changes
-// may be introduced in subsequent minor version releases as we work to track
-// the evolving OpenTelemetry specification and user feedback.
+// Deprecated: This package will be removed in the next release. Use the
+// equivalent unit string instead.
 package unit // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
--- a/metric/unit/unit.go
+++ b/metric/unit/unit.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 package unit // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"

 // Unit is a determinate standard quantity of measurement.
+//
+// Deprecated: This will be removed in the next release.
 type Unit string

 // Units defined by OpenTelemetry.
--- a/sdk/metric/instrument.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/instrument.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/instrument"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/internal"
@@ -29,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 )

 var (
-	zeroUnit           unit.Unit
 	zeroInstrumentKind InstrumentKind
 	zeroScope          instrumentation.Scope
 )
@@ -76,7 +74,7 @@ type Instrument struct {
 	// Kind defines the functional group of the instrument.
 	Kind InstrumentKind
 	// Unit is the unit of measurement recorded by the instrument.
-	Unit unit.Unit
+	Unit string
 	// Scope identifies the instrumentation that created the instrument.
 	Scope instrumentation.Scope

@@ -89,7 +87,7 @@ func (i Instrument) empty() bool {
 	return i.Name == "" &&
 		i.Description == "" &&
 		i.Kind == zeroInstrumentKind &&
-		i.Unit == zeroUnit &&
+		i.Unit == "" &&
 		i.Scope == zeroScope
 }

@@ -125,7 +123,7 @@ func (i Instrument) matchesKind(other Instrument) bool {
 // matchesUnit returns true if the Unit of i is its zero-value or it equals the
 // Unit of other, otherwise false.
 func (i Instrument) matchesUnit(other Instrument) bool {
-	return i.Unit == zeroUnit || i.Unit == other.Unit
+	return i.Unit == "" || i.Unit == other.Unit
 }

 // matchesScope returns true if the Scope of i is its zero-value or it equals
@@ -143,7 +141,7 @@ type Stream struct {
 	// Description describes the purpose of the data.
 	Description string
 	// Unit is the unit of measurement recorded.
-	Unit unit.Unit
+	Unit string
 	// Aggregation the stream uses for an instrument.
 	Aggregation aggregation.Aggregation
 	// AttributeFilter applied to all attributes recorded for an instrument.
@@ -157,7 +155,7 @@ type streamID struct {
 	// Description is the description of the stream.
 	Description string
 	// Unit is the unit of the stream.
-	Unit unit.Unit
+	Unit string
 	// Aggregation is the aggregation data type of the stream.
 	Aggregation string
 	// Monotonic is the monotonicity of an instruments data type. This field is
@@ -206,7 +204,7 @@ type observablID[N int64 | float64] struct {
 	name        string
 	description string
 	kind        InstrumentKind
-	unit        unit.Unit
+	unit        string
 	scope       instrumentation.Scope
 }

@@ -219,7 +217,7 @@ var _ instrument.Float64ObservableCounter = float64Observable{}
 var _ instrument.Float64ObservableUpDownCounter = float64Observable{}
 var _ instrument.Float64ObservableGauge = float64Observable{}

-func newFloat64Observable(scope instrumentation.Scope, kind InstrumentKind, name, desc string, u unit.Unit, agg []internal.Aggregator[float64]) float64Observable {
+func newFloat64Observable(scope instrumentation.Scope, kind InstrumentKind, name, desc, u string, agg []internal.Aggregator[float64]) float64Observable {
 	return float64Observable{
 		observable: newObservable[float64](scope, kind, name, desc, u, agg),
 	}
@@ -234,7 +232,7 @@ var _ instrument.Int64ObservableCounter = int64Observable{}
 var _ instrument.Int64ObservableUpDownCounter = int64Observable{}
 var _ instrument.Int64ObservableGauge = int64Observable{}

-func newInt64Observable(scope instrumentation.Scope, kind InstrumentKind, name, desc string, u unit.Unit, agg []internal.Aggregator[int64]) int64Observable {
+func newInt64Observable(scope instrumentation.Scope, kind InstrumentKind, name, desc, u string, agg []internal.Aggregator[int64]) int64Observable {
 	return int64Observable{
 		observable: newObservable[int64](scope, kind, name, desc, u, agg),
 	}
@@ -247,7 +245,7 @@ type observable[N int64 | float64] struct {
 	aggregators []internal.Aggregator[N]
 }

-func newObservable[N int64 | float64](scope instrumentation.Scope, kind InstrumentKind, name, desc string, u unit.Unit, agg []internal.Aggregator[N]) *observable[N] {
+func newObservable[N int64 | float64](scope instrumentation.Scope, kind InstrumentKind, name, desc, u string, agg []internal.Aggregator[N]) *observable[N] {
 	return &observable[N]{
 		observablID: observablID[N]{
 			name:        name,
--- a/sdk/metric/meter.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/meter.go
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/global"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/instrument"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/internal"
 )
@@ -374,7 +373,7 @@ func newInstProvider[N int64 | float64](s instrumentation.Scope, p pipelines, c
 	return &instProvider[N]{scope: s, pipes: p, resolve: newResolver[N](p, c)}
 }

-func (p *instProvider[N]) aggs(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc string, u unit.Unit) ([]internal.Aggregator[N], error) {
+func (p *instProvider[N]) aggs(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc, u string) ([]internal.Aggregator[N], error) {
 	inst := Instrument{
 		Name:        name,
 		Description: desc,
@@ -386,14 +385,14 @@ func (p *instProvider[N]) aggs(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc string, u unit.Un
 }

 // lookup returns the resolved instrumentImpl.
-func (p *instProvider[N]) lookup(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc string, u unit.Unit) (*instrumentImpl[N], error) {
+func (p *instProvider[N]) lookup(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc, u string) (*instrumentImpl[N], error) {
 	aggs, err := p.aggs(kind, name, desc, u)
 	return &instrumentImpl[N]{aggregators: aggs}, err
 }

 type int64ObservProvider struct{ *instProvider[int64] }

-func (p int64ObservProvider) lookup(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc string, u unit.Unit) (int64Observable, error) {
+func (p int64ObservProvider) lookup(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc, u string) (int64Observable, error) {
 	aggs, err := p.aggs(kind, name, desc, u)
 	return newInt64Observable(p.scope, kind, name, desc, u, aggs), err
 }
@@ -424,7 +423,7 @@ func (o int64Observer) Observe(val int64, attrs ...attribute.KeyValue) {

 type float64ObservProvider struct{ *instProvider[float64] }

-func (p float64ObservProvider) lookup(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc string, u unit.Unit) (float64Observable, error) {
+func (p float64ObservProvider) lookup(kind InstrumentKind, name, desc, u string) (float64Observable, error) {
 	aggs, err := p.aggs(kind, name, desc, u)
 	return newFloat64Observable(p.scope, kind, name, desc, u, aggs), err
 }
--- a/sdk/metric/metricdata/data.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/metricdata/data.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"time"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
 )
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ type Metrics struct {
 	// Description is the description of the Instrument, which can be used in documentation.
 	Description string
 	// Unit is the unit in which the Instrument reports.
-	Unit unit.Unit
+	Unit string
 	// Data is the aggregated data from an Instrument.
 	Data Aggregation
 }
--- a/sdk/metric/metricdata/metricdatatest/assertion_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/metricdata/metricdatatest/assertion_test.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
@@ -175,19 +174,19 @@ var (
 	metricsA = metricdata.Metrics{
 		Name:        "A",
 		Description: "A desc",
-		Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+		Unit:        "1",
 		Data:        sumInt64A,
 	}
 	metricsB = metricdata.Metrics{
 		Name:        "B",
 		Description: "B desc",
-		Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+		Unit:        "By",
 		Data:        gaugeFloat64B,
 	}
 	metricsC = metricdata.Metrics{
 		Name:        "A",
 		Description: "A desc",
-		Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+		Unit:        "1",
 		Data:        sumInt64C,
 	}

--- a/sdk/metric/pipeline.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/pipeline.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/global"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/internal"
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ type aggregator interface {
 type instrumentSync struct {
 	name        string
 	description string
-	unit        unit.Unit
+	unit        string
 	aggregator  aggregator
 }

--- a/sdk/metric/pipeline_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/pipeline_test.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata/metricdatatest"
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ func TestEmptyPipeline(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Nil(t, output.Resource)
 	assert.Len(t, output.ScopeMetrics, 0)

-	iSync := instrumentSync{"name", "desc", unit.Dimensionless, testSumAggregator{}}
+	iSync := instrumentSync{"name", "desc", "1", testSumAggregator{}}
 	assert.NotPanics(t, func() {
 		pipe.addSync(instrumentation.Scope{}, iSync)
 	})
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ func TestNewPipeline(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, resource.Empty(), output.Resource)
 	assert.Len(t, output.ScopeMetrics, 0)

-	iSync := instrumentSync{"name", "desc", unit.Dimensionless, testSumAggregator{}}
+	iSync := instrumentSync{"name", "desc", "1", testSumAggregator{}}
 	assert.NotPanics(t, func() {
 		pipe.addSync(instrumentation.Scope{}, iSync)
 	})
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ func TestPipelineConcurrency(t *testing.T) {
 		go func(n int) {
 			defer wg.Done()
 			name := fmt.Sprintf("name %d", n)
-			sync := instrumentSync{name, "desc", unit.Dimensionless, testSumAggregator{}}
+			sync := instrumentSync{name, "desc", "1", testSumAggregator{}}
 			pipe.addSync(instrumentation.Scope{}, sync)
 		}(i)

@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ func testDefaultViewImplicit[N int64 | float64]() func(t *testing.T) {
 		Name:        "requests",
 		Description: "count of requests received",
 		Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
-		Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+		Unit:        "1",
 	}
 	return func(t *testing.T) {
 		reader := NewManualReader()
@@ -176,7 +175,7 @@ func testDefaultViewImplicit[N int64 | float64]() func(t *testing.T) {
 				metricdatatest.AssertEqual(t, metricdata.Metrics{
 					Name:        inst.Name,
 					Description: inst.Description,
-					Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+					Unit:        "1",
 					Data: metricdata.Sum[N]{
 						Temporality: metricdata.CumulativeTemporality,
 						IsMonotonic: true,
--- a/sdk/metric/reader_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/reader_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import (

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
@@ -211,7 +210,7 @@ var testScopeMetricsA = metricdata.ScopeMetrics{
 	Metrics: []metricdata.Metrics{{
 		Name:        "fake data",
 		Description: "Data used to test a reader",
-		Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+		Unit:        "1",
 		Data: metricdata.Sum[int64]{
 			Temporality: metricdata.CumulativeTemporality,
 			IsMonotonic: true,
@@ -230,7 +229,7 @@ var testScopeMetricsB = metricdata.ScopeMetrics{
 	Metrics: []metricdata.Metrics{{
 		Name:        "fake scope data",
 		Description: "Data used to test a Producer reader",
-		Unit:        unit.Milliseconds,
+		Unit:        "ms",
 		Data: metricdata.Gauge[int64]{
 			DataPoints: []metricdata.DataPoint[int64]{{
 				Attributes: attribute.NewSet(attribute.String("user", "ben")),
--- a/sdk/metric/view_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/view_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import (

 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/aggregation"
 )
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ var (
 		Name:        "foo",
 		Description: "foo desc",
 		Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
-		Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+		Unit:        "By",
 		Scope: instrumentation.Scope{
 			Name:      "TestNewViewMatch",
 			Version:   "v0.1.0",
@@ -206,12 +205,12 @@ func TestNewViewMatch(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			name:     "Unit",
-			criteria: Instrument{Unit: unit.Bytes},
-			matches:  []Instrument{{Unit: unit.Bytes}, completeIP},
+			criteria: Instrument{Unit: "By"},
+			matches:  []Instrument{{Unit: "By"}, completeIP},
 			notMatches: []Instrument{
 				{},
-				{Unit: unit.Dimensionless},
-				{Unit: unit.Unit("K")},
+				{Unit: "1"},
+				{Unit: "K"},
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -278,49 +277,49 @@ func TestNewViewMatch(t *testing.T) {
 					Name:        "Wrong Name",
 					Description: "foo desc",
 					Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
-					Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+					Unit:        "By",
 					Scope:       scope("TestNewViewMatch", "v0.1.0", schemaURL),
 				},
 				{
 					Name:        "foo",
 					Description: "Wrong Description",
 					Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
-					Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+					Unit:        "By",
 					Scope:       scope("TestNewViewMatch", "v0.1.0", schemaURL),
 				},
 				{
 					Name:        "foo",
 					Description: "foo desc",
 					Kind:        InstrumentKindObservableUpDownCounter,
-					Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+					Unit:        "By",
 					Scope:       scope("TestNewViewMatch", "v0.1.0", schemaURL),
 				},
 				{
 					Name:        "foo",
 					Description: "foo desc",
 					Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
-					Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+					Unit:        "1",
 					Scope:       scope("TestNewViewMatch", "v0.1.0", schemaURL),
 				},
 				{
 					Name:        "foo",
 					Description: "foo desc",
 					Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
-					Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+					Unit:        "By",
 					Scope:       scope("Wrong Scope Name", "v0.1.0", schemaURL),
 				},
 				{
 					Name:        "foo",
 					Description: "foo desc",
 					Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
-					Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+					Unit:        "By",
 					Scope:       scope("TestNewViewMatch", "v1.4.3", schemaURL),
 				},
 				{
 					Name:        "foo",
 					Description: "foo desc",
 					Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
-					Unit:        unit.Bytes,
+					Unit:        "By",
 					Scope:       scope("TestNewViewMatch", "v0.1.0", "https://go.dev"),
 				},
 			},
@@ -384,12 +383,12 @@ func TestNewViewReplace(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			name: "Unit",
-			mask: Stream{Unit: unit.Dimensionless},
+			mask: Stream{Unit: "1"},
 			want: func(i Instrument) Stream {
 				return Stream{
 					Name:        i.Name,
 					Description: i.Description,
-					Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+					Unit:        "1",
 				}
 			},
 		},
@@ -410,14 +409,14 @@ func TestNewViewReplace(t *testing.T) {
 			mask: Stream{
 				Name:        alt,
 				Description: alt,
-				Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+				Unit:        "1",
 				Aggregation: aggregation.LastValue{},
 			},
 			want: func(i Instrument) Stream {
 				return Stream{
 					Name:        alt,
 					Description: alt,
-					Unit:        unit.Dimensionless,
+					Unit:        "1",
 					Aggregation: aggregation.LastValue{},
 				}
 			},
@@ -490,7 +489,7 @@ func ExampleNewView() {
 	stream, _ := view(Instrument{
 		Name:        "latency",
 		Description: "request latency",
-		Unit:        unit.Milliseconds,
+		Unit:        "ms",
 		Kind:        InstrumentKindCounter,
 		Scope: instrumentation.Scope{
 			Name:      "http",
@@ -537,7 +536,7 @@ func ExampleNewView_wildcard() {
 	// name suffix of ".ms".
 	view := NewView(
 		Instrument{Name: "*.ms"},
-		Stream{Unit: unit.Milliseconds},
+		Stream{Unit: "ms"},
 	)

 	// The created view can then be registered with the OpenTelemetry metric
@@ -546,7 +545,7 @@ func ExampleNewView_wildcard() {

 	stream, _ := view(Instrument{
 		Name: "computation.time.ms",
-		Unit: unit.Dimensionless,
+		Unit: "1",
 	})
 	fmt.Println("name:", stream.Name)
 	fmt.Println("unit:", stream.Unit)
@@ -573,9 +572,9 @@ func ExampleView() {
 			return s, false
 		}
 		switch i.Unit {
-		case unit.Milliseconds:
+		case "ms":
 			s.Name += ".ms"
-		case unit.Bytes:
+		case "By":
 			s.Name += ".byte"
 		default:
 			return s, false
@@ -589,13 +588,13 @@ func ExampleView() {

 	stream, _ := view(Instrument{
 		Name: "computation.time.ms",
-		Unit: unit.Milliseconds,
+		Unit: "ms",
 	})
 	fmt.Println("name:", stream.Name)

 	stream, _ = view(Instrument{
 		Name: "heap.size",
-		Unit: unit.Bytes,
+		Unit: "By",
 	})
 	fmt.Println("name:", stream.Name)
 	// Output: