Most substances are composed of molecules, which are made up of atoms, and atoms consist of atomic nuclei and electrons. Within an atom, electrons spin and orbit around the atomic nucleus. Both of these movements generate magnetism. However, in most substances, the directions of electron movements are varied and chaotic, with their magnetic effects canceling each other out. Therefore, most substances do not exhibit magnetism under normal circumstances.

Iron, cobalt, nickel, or ferrites, among other ferromagnetic materials, differ in that their internal electron spins can spontaneously align within a small range, forming a spontaneously magnetized region known as a magnetic domain.

After magnetization, ferromagnetic materials have their magnetic domains neatly arranged in a uniform direction, enhancing the magnetic properties, thus forming a magnet. The process of a magnet attracting iron is the same as magnetizing the iron block, where magnetized iron blocks and magnets with opposite poles generate an attractive force, causing the iron block to firmly stick to the magnet. We say the magnet has magnetic properties.