An object of the invention is to provide thin-film magnetic heads that meet
specifications required by the customer in a short time and to improve
yields of the thin-film magnetic heads. A reproducing head of a thin-film
magnetic head includes an MR element and a bottom shield layer and a top
shield layer. A recording head of the thin-film magnetic head includes a
bottom pole layer (top shield layer) and a top pole layer which include
pole portions opposed to each other while a recording gap layer is placed
between the pole portions. The recording head further includes a thin-film
coil placed between the bottom pole layer and the top pole layer. The top
shield layer includes: a first portion placed in a region including a
region facing the thin-film coil; a second portion connected to a surface
of the first portion facing the coil and placed on a side of a bottom
shield layer; and a third portion connected to the second portion and
facing the bottom shield layer with the MR element in between. The
thin-film coil is located on a side of the second portion.
