Esters may be defined as any of a class of organic compounds produced by reactions between acids and alcohols that involve the elimination of water.

Esters are named as if the alkyl chain from the alcohol is a substituent. No number is assigned to this alkyl chain, this is followed by name of parent chain from carboxylic acid part of the ester -e remove and replaced with -oate.

Ex- H3COOCH will be methyl methanoate.