A method of manufacturing an integrated magneto-optical element for use in a digital magneto-optical signal write/read head and an integrated magneto-optical element manufactured according to the method. The method of manufacturing an integrated magneto-optical element for use in a digital magneto-optical signal read/write head, in which the manufacturing techniques of thin film coils are combined with lens-making techniques to realise a high performance, reliable and cost-effective lens-MFM coil combination for use in a slider having an air bearing surface for 'flying' just above a surface of a storage medium (102) during operation. The method comprises two principal steps: Step I is to make an MFM coil (106) by means of a thin film technique, and Step 2 is to make an objective lens (114) on top of the transparent (e.g. glass) plate (109) in which the MFM coil (106) is located. |