It can usually be distinguished from tragic operas or melodramas by the presence of a basso buffo. One of the better-known examples is Gaetano Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix.
The term "basso buffo" refers to a comic character typically found in operas, and the presence of this character can distinguish it from other types of operas such as tragic or melodramatic ones. A notable example is the opera "Linda di Chamounix" by Gaetano Donizetti.