Magnetism is the class of physical attributes that are mediated by a magnetic field, which refers to the capacity to induce attractive and repulsive phenomena in other entities. Electric currents and the magnetic moments of elementary particles give rise to a magnetic field, which acts on other currents and magnetic moments. Magnetism is one aspect of the combined phenomena of electromagnetism. The most familiar effects occur in ferromagnetic materials, which are strongly attracted by magnetic fields and can be magnetized to become permanent magnets, producing magnetic fields themselves. Demagnetizing a magnet is also possible. Only a few substances are ferromagnetic; the most common ones are iron, cobalt, and nickel and their alloys. The rare-earth metals neodymium and samarium are less common examples. The prefix ferro- refers to iron because permanent magnetism was first observed in lodestone, a form of natural iron ore called magnetite, Fe₃O₄.

भौतिकी में चुम्बकत्व वह प्रक्रिया है, जिसमें एक वस्तु दूसरी वस्तु पर आकर्षण या प्रतिकर्षण बल लगाती है। जो वस्तुएँ यह गुण प्रदर्शित करती हैं, उन्हें चुम्बक कहते हैं। निकल, लोहा, कोबाल्ट एवं उनके मिश्रण आदि सरलता से पहचाने जाने योग्य चुम्बकीय गुण रखते हैं। ज्ञातव्य है कि सब वस्तुएं न्यूनाधिक मात्रा में चुम्बकीय क्षेत्र की उपस्थिति से प्रभावित होती हैं।