Prefixes are used to identify components of a SKF bearing and are usually then followed by the SKF bearing designation of the complete bearing, or to avoid confusion with other bearing designations. For example they are used in front of designations for tapered roller bearings according to a system described in ANSI/ABMA Standard 19 for (predominantly) inch bearings. 

• AR-: Ball or roller and cage assembly
• E2.: SKF Energy Efficient bearings
• GS: Housing washer of a cylindrical roller thrust bearing
• IR-: Inner ring of radial bearing
• K: Cylindrical roller and cage thrust assembly
• K-: Inner ring with roller and cage assembly (cone) or outer ring (cup) of inch tapered roller bearing belonging to an ABMA standard series
• L: Separate inner or outer ring of a separable bearing
• OR-: Outer ring of radial bearing
• R: Inner or outer ring with roller (and cage) assembly of a separable bearing
• W: Stainless steel deep groove ball bearing
• WF: Deep groove ball bearing of stainless steel with external flange on outer ring
• WS: Shaft washer of a cylindrical roller thrust bearing
• ZE: SKF Bearing with SensorMount® feature