Seed beads can be categorized into four different types:

Rocaille - (pronounced "roh-kai") describes any round seed bead with either a round or a square hole. Often irregular in length or shape.

Delicas - (or Japanese cylinder beads): Precision-made, perfectly cylindrical size 11 seed beads that look like tiny rectangular tiles when woven in a pattern. They have a relatively large hole for their size, which makes them light, so you get more beads per gram. These features make delicas ideal for weaving projects.

Bugle beads - Longer, tube-shaped seed beads that come in many sizes.

Charlotte - one cut, or facet, is ground into the bead to create sparkle.

• 2 cut: sides are cut or faceted in two places, creating a more reflective surface.
• 3 cut: sides and ends are cut or faceted, creating the most reflective surface.
• Triangle: three-sided bead, creating a triangular seed bead
• Hexagon: six-sided seed bead
• Magnatama: a teardrop-shaped seed bead.