tert-Butyl 4-aminobenzoate is used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, dyes, UV absorbers, and local anesthetics such as benzocaine derivatives. It acts as a protected form of 4-aminobenzoic acid, where the carboxylic acid is esterified with a tert-butyl group, enabling selective reactions at the free amine functionality without interference from the acidic carboxyl group. The tert-butyl ester offers good stability and can be selectively deprotected under mild acidic conditions, making it valuable in multi-step syntheses requiring orthogonal protection strategies.