Thin Film Read/Write Head
The read/write heads on today's magnetic disks are so tiny you need a microscope to see them. The heads are attached to a pair of aerodynamically designed rails, known as a "slider," that keep the head at the proper distance from the disk platter.
GMR and Inductive Technologies
Typical read/write heads use a giant magnetoreresistive (GMR) head for reading and an inductive coil for writing as in this illustration. (Illustration assistance courtesy of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.)
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