There is provided a near-field optical head promoting reliability of a head by improving mechanical strength thereof. An edge portion 23 of a head front end portion 22 is constituted by a side 26 where a bottom face 24 and a side face 25 of the head intersect with each other. The bottom face 24 and the side face 25 intersect with each other substantially orthogonally. When the edge portion 23 is viewed microscopically (nm level), the edge portion 23 is provided with a curved face. A radius of curvature Rt thereof corresponds with a reproducible bit size and the smaller (the sharper) of the radius of curvature Rt, the higher density recording can be carried out. The edge portion 23 can be fabricated at an angle determined by crystal faces when the edge portion 23 is formed by using anisotropic etching of Si. <IMAGE>
