Permanent Magnets and Electromagnets
Permanent magnets are known since ancient times. It took until the late middle ages, before a first description of the properties of magnets was written down.
Magnets were known at that time only from natural origin (often meteorite oar, which made them rare and expensive).
These magnetic stones were clad with iron balls and thus gave the so-called lodestones.
A permanent magnet is an object made from a material that is magnetized and creates its own persistent magnetic field.
As the name suggests, a permanent magnet is 'permanent'. This means that it always has a magnetic field and will display a magnetic behavior at all times.
Difference between a permanent magnet and an electromagnet
In an electromagnet the magnetic field is created through electric current in a wire-wound coil and strengthened by a soft-iron core. As soon as you turn off the power, the soft-iron core loses its magnetisation.
A permanent magnet is made of ferromagnetic material, which is magnetised by a strong external magnetic field. The magnetically hard material that is used keeps part of its magnetisation after the external magnetic field is turned off.