Disk read-and-write head

As a magnetic head, a component is called, which serves to write, read and / or deletion of magnetic storage media / disk.

In describing the storage medium (eg, tape, video tape, hard disk ) of the magnetic head works as an electromagnet and magnetized the hard magnetic layer material ( fine-grained parts) in rhythm with the information. Reading these magnetization in turn, causes the induction of a low voltage in the magnetic head, which is converted into electrical signals and transmitted. To clear case of analog media (tape, VCR) is a separate erase head used, used just to generate a high-frequency alternating field demagnetized the magnetic layer of the medium. Disks themselves have no erase head, the deletion takes place here by overwriting of deleted data with new data. Read and write heads for analog sound ( heads ) are made of a highly permeable laminated with copper magnet wire wound toroidal core, which has a taper and a gap at one point. Contrast, erase heads and the magnetic heads of VCRs, hard disks and floppy drives consist of ferrite.

CD -ROM disks work on a different principle.