The rotating or linear stepping motor comprises a permanent magnet equipped with pole pieces the ends of which define gaps.This motor comprises a second permanent magnet so that its primary has a magnet (6) equipped with pole pieces (4) and (7) and its secondary has a magnet (9) equipped with pole pieces (5) and (10). Each magnet (6), (9) is subjected to the field of a winding (2) which is perpendicular to the direction of its magnetization and directed towards one or the other of the ends of each pole piece so as to create a transfer of the flux of the magnets. In the case of a rotating motor, the winding (2) preferably has a toroidal shape with circular cross-section and the path of the flux around a circular section of winding also has an approximately circular shape so that each part of the winding (2) is surrounded by iron of minimum length. Each gap is flanked by two magnets and the residual holding torque is strengthened. This torque can be cancelled by a releasing pulse.Use of a rotating or linear stepping motor, particularly in robotics.