Angular contact ball bearings are a type of rolling-element bearing. As the name implies, rolling-element bearings use a roller or ball to carry a load. There are many types of roller-element bearings, including: Each type of bearing has its own distinct advantages and trade-offs.

Angular contact ball bearings have inner and outer ring raceways that are displaced relative to each other in the direction of the bearing axis. This means that these bearings are designed to accommodate combined loads, i.e. simultaneously acting radial and axial loads.