I have seen a number of IC datasheets that call for low ESR capacitors
as external components.  But when you look up capacitors in a Digikey or
other catalog, ESR is never quoted in terms of x ohms at 250kHz or any
other frequency for that matter.  Even caps advertised as low ESR do not
cite actual ESR values.

And if you check out datasheets at manufacturer's web sites, the ESR
values cited for "low ESR" caps vary substantially - anywhere from
milliOhms to 1000+ ohms.

How should I interpret an IC datasheet that recommends a low ESR cap?
Should I just use a polyester cap and figure that ESR should be low?  Or
is there some target resistance, at the appropriate frequency for the
application, that I should be looking for on a capacitor datasheet?

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