Dabigatran is an oral direct thrombin inhibitor used as an anticoagulant to prevent and treat thromboembolic events by blocking thrombin’s role in fibrin clot formation. It matters clinically because it offers a predictable anticoagulant effect without routine monitoring, improving stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients. A key consideration is its risk of bleeding, particularly gastrointestinal haemorrhage, which requires careful patient selection and management.