  Let $R$ be a ring and $b, c\in R$. In this paper, we give some characterizations of the $(b,c)$-inverse, in terms of the direct sum decomposition, the annihilator and the invertible elements. Moreover, elements with equal $(b,c)$-idempotents related to their $(b, c)$-inverses are characterized, and the reverse order rule for the $(b,c)$-inverse is considered. 
Characterizations of the $(b, c)$-inverse in a ring