Two of the friction choices you will see are ceramic and organic (NAO) brake pads. They sit at different points on the price-and-performance scale. Here is how ceramic and organic brake pads compare.
Organic (NAO) pads
Non-asbestos organic pads use fibers like glass, rubber, and resin. They are soft, quiet, gentle on rotors, and inexpensive - fine for light-duty, low-demand driving; see friction material types. The trade-off is faster wear and earlier fade under heat.
Ceramic pads
Ceramic pads use ceramic compounds and fibers. They last longer, run cleaner (light, low dust), stay quiet, and handle heat better than organic - the popular all-around daily-driver choice; see ceramic vs semi-metallic. They cost more than organic.
Which to choose
For most drivers who want long life, low dust, and quiet braking, ceramic is worth the extra cost. Organic makes sense for a budget job on a light-duty vehicle. For towing or heat, a semi-metallic may beat both.
Install right either way
Whatever you choose, bed the pads in and use fresh hardware for the best result; see material types. Browse quality brake pads and hardware.