Methyl ester
= Methyl ester
A <methyl ester> of a <carboxylic acid> has the group $\mathrm{R-C(=O)-OCH_3}$. The methyl group belongs to the alcohol-derived part of the <ester>.
<Hydrolysis> can regenerate a <carboxylic acid> and <methanol>. Changing a free acid into a methyl ester also changes charge and hydrogen-bonding behaviour, which can alter <solubility> and analytical handling.