What feature characterizes an enteric-coated tablet?

An enteric-coated tablet is specifically designed to dissolve in the intestines rather than the stomach. This coating helps protect the active ingredients within the tablet from the acidic environment of the stomach, ensuring that they reach the intestine where the pH is more neutral. This characteristic is particularly important for medications that could be degraded by stomach acid or those that may irritate the stomach lining. The enteric coating typically uses materials that withstand the acidic conditions of the stomach, thus allowing for the release of the medication in the more appropriate environment of the small intestine, where absorption can occur effectively.