Every magnet has two ends called poles. One is a north pole and the other is a south pole. The magnetic force of a magnet is strongest at its poles, and a bar magnet can pick up small iron objects most easily with its ends.
When two magnets are brought close together, each one exerts a force on the other. Unlike poles attract: a north pole and a south pole pull towards each other. Like poles repel: two north poles, or two south poles, push each other apart.
This is a non-contact force. The two magnets feel the force even when they are not touching, because each magnet has a magnetic field around it that acts on the other one. If you hold two bar magnets and feel a push, you know the two poles facing each other are the same. If you feel a pull, they are different.
