Generally, rolling bearings consist of two rings with a set of rolling elements running in their tracks. Standard shapes of rolling elements include the ball, cylindrical roller, needle roller, tapered roller, symmetrical and unsymmetrical barrel roller .

As a rule, the rolling elements are guided in a cage that ensures uniform spacing and prevents mutual contact. In needle roller bearings and lipless spherical roller bearings the cage must additionally provide for the correct position of the rolling element axis. The cage of a separable bearing has the further function of holding together the rolling element set and thereby facilitating bearing mounting.

Bearing rings and rolling elements are produced predominantly from through-hardenable chromium steel. Casehardening steel is also used. Large rolling bearings such as slewing bearings are mainly made from quenched and tempered steel and have surface-hardened raceways. Special bearings for extreme operating conditions load, speed, temperature, corrosion are produced from heat-resistant and/or stainless steel, plastic, ceramic material, and from other materials

Pressed cages are almost exclusively made from sheet steel and sometimes from brass sheet. Solid cages are of plastic material, brass, light alloys or steel, and sometimes also of sintered iron or textile-laminated phenolic resin. Widely in use are injection-moulded solid cages of thermoplastic materials, predominantly of glass-fibre reinforced polyamide.