Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is provided. The thin-ffilm magnetic head includes an element portion including an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, an insulating barrier layer, and a free magnetic layer laminated on a substrate. A protective layer that protects an end face of the element portion where the end face faces a recording medium. An adhesion layer is disposed between the protective layer and the end face of the element portion, the insulating barrier layer is exposed at the end face of the element portion. The insulating barrier layer is a TiOx film, and nitrogen is present in at least the interface between the adhesion layer and the insulating barrier layer.