Like poles repel. Unlike poles attract. Only dipoles seem to exist in nature. Magnets have magnetic fields around them. See the text for examples of magnetic field lines.
Magnets exist because of domains which are tiny areas of magnetic materials.
Magnets are affected by moving electric charges. Moving charges are also affected by magnetic fields. We can build small electric motors using the interaction between magnetic fields and electric current. We are able to do work with them. Permanent magnets are made of ferromagnetic materials.