A recording head is the physical interface between a recording apparatus and a moving recording medium. Recording heads are generally classified according to the physical principle that allows them to impress their data upon their medium. A recording head is often mechanically paired with a playback head, which, though proximal to, is often discrete from the record head.

The two most common forms of recording head are:

• Magnetic - Magnetic recording heads use the principles of electromagnetism to coerce a paramagnetic recording medium, such as iron oxides, to orient in a readable manner such as magnetic tape. Record heads are constructed of laminated permalloy, ferrite, or sendust. As of 2006, this is the most dominant type of head in use.
• Optical - Optical recording heads use the principles of optics and light to impart energy on a recording medium, which accepts the energy in a readable manner, e.g. by melting or photography.

Note that Magneto-optical recording, though using optics and heat, should properly be considered a magnetic process, since the data stored on magneto-optical media is stored magnetically.

Earlier systems, such as phonograph records, used mechanical heads known as styli to physically cut grooves in the recording medium, in a configuration (of size, width, depth and position) recoverable as sound.

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  D6 HDTV VTR Scanner and video head, removed
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  Inside a D6 HDTV VTR Tape Deck, VTR Scanner and video head in place.
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  Type B videotape video Scanner Head
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  Type B VTR, BCN 20 Tape Desk and video Scanner
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  Quadruplex videotape Ampex AVR-2 Video Head
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  Sony U-Matic Video head
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  Ampex audio recorder
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  VHS heads
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  Nagra audio heads: erase, record and play
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  Exposed head gap due to excessive head-wear. Sony UVW Betacam SP video heads

• Analog recording
• Cassette demagnetizer
• Compact Cassette
• Digital recording
• Sound recording and reproduction
• VCR
• Videotape
• Video head cleaner
• VTR

• Diagrams and explanations of recording heads and the tape recording process.
• An Ampex recording head, deconstructed.
• A tape recorder, showing the head assemblies.
• Photo of an early recording head as part of a wire recorder.