A magnetic head comprises a slider having a flying plane on its one surface opposed to a magnetic recording medium, a reading/writing element attached to the end surface at the air discharge side of the slider and a protective layer formed on the end surface so as to cover the reading/writing element, wherein an edge of the protective layer is inside an edge of the end surface at at least the upper surface which is opposite the flying plane, so that there is formed a space between the edge of the end surface and the edge of the protective layer.