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Let $H$ be the tautological bundle on ${\mathbb{CP}}^1\cong S^2$. One sign convention for the Bott element iswhere $[1]$ is the rank-one trivial vector bundle. It has rank zero, and its Chern character has degree-two term $c_1(H)$, a generator up to sign. Choosing the dual line bundle reverses that sign.

The $n$-fold reduced external product in topological K-theory gives a generator ofThis product uses the smash product of different sphere factors. It is distinct from taking exterior powers of a vector bundle over one fixed base. Multiplication by the Bott element realizes Bott periodicity.^[ref]