Let X be a projective curve over an algebraically closed field k. A vector bundle on X can be considered as a locally free sheaf. Every semistable locally free E on X admits a Jordan-Hölder filtration with stable subquotients, i.e.

${\displaystyle 0=E_{0}\subseteq E_{1}\subseteq \ldots \subseteq E_{n}=E}$ 

where ${\displaystyle E_{i}}$  are locally free sheaves on X and ${\displaystyle E_{i}/E_{i-1}}$  are stable. Although the Jordan-Hölder filtration is not unique, the subquotients are, which means that ${\displaystyle grE=\bigoplus _{i}E_{i}/E_{i-1}}$  is unique up to isomorphism.

Two semistable locally free sheaves E and F on X are S-equivalent if gr E ≅ gr F.