For guitars, you have a number of different scale names that corresponds short hand for measurements:
Vintage Fender Jaguar = 22.5 inches
Student or 3/4 scale = 23 inches
Vintage Gibson scale = varies from 24 5/8 to 24 9/16 inches
typical Gibson scale = 24.75 inches
typical Fender scale 25.5 inches
Classical guitar style neck = 25.6 to 26 inches
Once you get into extended range and fanned feet guitars, the scales get a little more complex to deal with in terms of verbal descriptions.
Same is true regarding the variability of bass guitar measurements that use the terms short, medium, long, or extra-long scale.
Here's an excellent reference that deals better with those issues than I can explain here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_length_(string_instruments)
Just remember scale dimension is only one variable that can affect how playable a neck is for your hands. Fretboard radius, neck width, neck thickness, neck shape, fret height, fret width, string height, string gauge, neck angle, and neck relief all are factors too.
Once you learn about all those factors, you learn by experiencing them regarding which combination of specs will work for your playing style comfort and the sound you want in your head.