The sport is very similar to ice figure skating. However, roller figure skating is often considered to be more difficult than ice skating.

Artistic roller skating is a sport similar to figure skating on ice. Within artistic roller skating there are several disciplines:

• Figure Skating
• Single free skating
• Dance (couple)
• Solo dance
• Pairs
• Precision (team skating, similar to synchronized skating on ice)
• Show teams

Artistic roller skaters use either quad or inline skates. Generally quad and inline skaters compete in separate events and not against each other. Inline figure skating has been included in the world championships since 2002 in Wuppertal, Germany.

Dance roller skating contains three major sub-disciplines: Compulsory Dance, Original Dance, and Free Dance.

Compulsory dance contains prescribed compulsory dances and steps that must be performed, such as the Imperial Tango, the 14 Step, the Keats Foxtrot , or the Flirtation Waltz. Some of the dances are the same as performed in ice dancing competition, while others are unique to roller skating.

Original Dance consists of a dance constructed of two rhythms chosen from a set of rhythms that the world governing body changes every year .

Free Dance is similar to the ice free dance, although with some rules changes.

Solo dance incorporates all three sub disciplines. Compulsory dances generally utilise the female steps as they are usually more difficult that the male steps.

Artistic free skating traditionally emphasizes spins that are uncommon on ice, such as the inverted spin in which the skater leans backward with the free leg extended high in front. Artistic roller skaters also perform the quadruple, triple, double, and single jumps known from the ice skating scene, such as axels, loops, and salchows. Some elements have different names in roller skating than they do in figure skating; for example

Roller free skating is sometimes seen as harder than ice skating, due to the heavier skates, but the lower cost of roller skating compared to ice skating has allowed participation from lower income countries like Argentina and Brazil. On the other side, figure skating is considered the more dangerous (and more popular) of the two, with the less consistent blade and the greater friction and variety of ice. Both sports have their merits, and high-level skaters of each discipline have trouble switching to the other.

Free skating is one of the more interesting and "fun" events to watch due to the jumps and spins to different music.

Precision Roller Skating is a large and fast-growing, yet little recognized discipline, consisting of 12-24 athletes skating on the floor at one time moving as one flowing unit at high speeds. This discipline of Precision Skating is named because of the emphasis on maintaining precise formations and timing of the group.