Modern permanent magnets are made from special alloys to create increasingly better magnets. The most common families of magnet materials today are: Ferrites; Alnicos (Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt); Ceramics; Samarium-Cobalts; and Neodymiums (Neodymium-Iron-Boron, NdFeB). Neodymiums and Samarium-Cobalts are collectively known as Rare Earths.