Is it a bead or a pendant?

The hole is what defines a bead or a pendant and ultimately how you will use it. Beads typically are smaller than pendants and have a hole running through the center, while pendants have the hole at the top so that they are easy to hang. You can use beads as pendants by placing them on a head pin or finding another way to suspend them. This modification works especially well for larger beads with plenty of detail.