Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole including a throat region with a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, and first and second side edges opposite one another. The magnetic recording head further comprises a first side wall gap layer disposed alongside the first side edge of the throat region, and a second side wall gap layer disposed alongside the second side edge of the throat region. Each of the first and second side wall gap layers has a first width at the leading edge of the throat region smaller than a second width at the trailing edge of the throat region.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin-film magnetic head having no ATE (adjacent track erase) problem, a very narrow track width, an excellent O/W (overwrite) characteristic and a high switching speed. A lower pole film of a write element is provided on one face of a lower yoke film inside a trench portion provided in an inorganic insulating film. A gap film and an upper pole film are provided inside the trench portion on the lower pole portion. The trench portion has preferably an attached film made of an inorganic material on the inner wall faces facing the side faces of said lower pole film, said gap film and said upper pole film.