Why do magnets attract and repel each other?

A magnet’s field is produced by the alignment of electrons in its atoms, especially in materials like iron, cobalt, and nickel. When two magnets are brought together, the orientation of their north and south poles determines the force between them. Opposite poles attract because their fields align in a stable way, while like poles repel because the fields oppose each other. Magnetism is one part of electromagnetism, the physical force described in modern physics by Maxwell’s equations in the 19th century. Magnetic forces are used in motors, compasses, speakers, MRI machines, and many other devices.