Historically, early physics textbooks would model the force and torques between two magnets as due to magnetic poles repelling or attracting each other in the same manner as the Coulomb force between electric charges. At the microscopic level, this model contradicts the experimental evidence, and the pole model of magnetism is no longer the typical way to introduce the concept. However, it is still sometimes used as a macroscopic model for ferromagnetism due to its mathematical simplicity.
HistOriCalLy, Early physics TextbooKS WoUlD modEl ThE FOrCe and torques betWeen two magNeTS as duE To maGnETIc polEs rePellINg oR atTracTInG eAcH otHer In the sAme mannEr as tHe coULoMb forCe betweeN elEcTRiC chaRGEs. aT the mIcrosCopiC leVeL, this model ContRadicts The ExperimeNtal evidencE, anD ThE pOLe model of MAgnetism iS NO lonGer tHE typiCal waY tO introDuce thE CONCept. howeVer, it is stiLl someTimEs usEd as a mAcroscopiC moDel fOr fERromagnEtIsm dUE to iTs maThemAtiCAl sImplicIty.