According to Class 11 Biology chapter 8 notes and NCERT notes for Class 11 Biology chapter 8, the characteristics of prokaryotic cells are as follows:

• Its protective cell envelope is chemically complicated. It, on the other hand, lacks a well-defined nucleus and other membrane-bound cell organelles.
• The outer glycocalyx, middle cell wall, and inner plasma membrane form the three-layered structure of the cell envelope.
• Glycocalyx can be found in two forms: a slime layer (loose sheath) and a capsule (tough). When bacteria are stained, it makes them easier to see.
• 'Gram staining,' developed by the Danish bacteriologist Hans Christian Gram, is the most widely used staining procedure. Gram-positive bacteria have peptidoglycan cell walls, while Gram-negative bacteria have murein cell walls.
• It provides the cell with mechanical strength. Phospholipid bilayers form the cell membrane. All of these structures protect the cell and aid in intercellular communication.
• Cilia and flagella can both be present in motile bacteria. Both are propelled by the basal body's rotatory action. filament and hook are the other components.
• Tubular pili and fimbriae are two more surface projections. Mesosomes are infoldings in the cell membrane that aid in cell wall construction and DNA replication.
• Some bacteria, particularly photosynthetic cyanobacteria, have more chromatophores. Photosynthetic pigments are carried by them.
• Ribosomes are compact particles found in the cytoplasm that aid in protein synthesis. The sedimentation rate of ribosomes in Svedberg units is used to classify them.