tablet

Tablet is a term with several related meanings. In modern technology, it refers to a portable, usually touch-screen computing device larger than a phone and smaller than a laptop, typically with screen sizes from 7 to 13 inches. In medicine, a tablet is a solid oral dosage form, a compressed unit of active drug often with excipients and a coating. In historical contexts, a tablet is a flat slab used for inscribing writing, such as clay or stone tablets.

In the pharmaceutical sense, tablets are produced by compression or molding and may be scored to allow partial dosing. They may be film-coated or enteric-coated to control release or protect the drug from stomach acid. Tablets can be manufactured with varying hardness, disintegration properties, and added fillers to influence stability, dissolution, and manufacturing cost.

In computing, tablets run operating systems such as iOS, Android, or Windows, and emphasize mobile, touch-based interaction. They typically rely on capacitive touchscreens, Wi-Fi and/or cellular connectivity, cameras, sensors, and optional accessories like styluses and detachable keyboards. Common use cases include media consumption, web browsing, note-taking, and light productivity. Battery life is a key design consideration, and processors emphasize efficiency and integrated graphics.

Historically, writing or memory tablets date back to ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other civilizations, where clay, wax, or metal slabs were inscribed with texts. The term has endured as new forms of “tablets” have emerged, from slate tablets used in schools to the modern digital device.