Magnetic heads are essential components in devices like hard disk drives and tape recorders. They read and write data by using magnetic fields to interact with the magnetic material on the storage medium. When data is written, the magnetic head alters the magnetic orientation of tiny particles on the surface, encoding information. When reading data, the magnetic head detects the magnetic fields created by these particles. This process converts the magnetic signals back into electrical signals, allowing the device to retrieve the stored information. Magnetic heads are crucial for the functioning of various data storage technologies.