Magnetic materials can be divided into metal and nonmetal according to their properties. The former mainly includes electrical steel, nickel-based alloy and rare earth alloy, while the latter is mainly ferrite material. It can be divided into soft magnetic materials, permanent magnetic materials and functional magnetic materials according to their uses.

Functional magnetic materials mainly include magnetostrictive materials, magnetic recording materials, magnetoresistance materials, bubble materials, magneto-optical materials, gyromagnetic materials and magnetic thin film materials. The basic magnetism of magnetic materials includes magnetization curve, hysteresis loop and magnetic loss.

Magnetic materials can be divided into diamagnetism, paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism and ferrimagnetism according to their internal structure and properties in external magnetic field. According to the nature, it can be divided into two categories: metal and nonmetal; It can be divided into soft magnetic materials, permanent magnetic materials and functional magnetic materials according to their uses.

There are many uses of permanent magnet materials: ① The applications based on the principle of electromagnetic force mainly include: speakers, microphones, meters, keys, motors, relays, sensors, switches and so on. ② The applications based on magnetoelectric principle mainly include magnetron, traveling wave tube and other microwave tubes, picture tubes, titanium pumps, microwave ferrite devices, magnetoresistance devices, Hall devices and so on. ③ Applications based on the principle of magnetism mainly include: magnetic bearings, concentrators, magnetic separators, magnetic suction cups, magnetic seals, magnetic blackboards, toys, signs, coded locks, photocopiers, temperature controllers, etc. Other applications include: magnetic therapy, magnetized water, magnetic anesthesia, etc.

The main functions of soft magnetic materials are magnetic conductivity and electromagnetic energy transfer.