Magnetoresistive read sensor with short permanent magnets

A method of forming a transducing head comprising the steps of:

• depositing a magnetoresistive sensor material;
• depositing a first mask on a masked portion of the sensor material;
• removing unmasked portions of the sensor material to create a magnetoresistive sensor having a sensor width;
• depositing a bias element material on the first mask and adjacent the magnetoresistive sensor;
• depositing a second mask on the magnetoresistive sensor and a masked portion of the bias element material adjacent opposite sides of the magnetoresistive sensor;
• and
• removing unmasked portions of the bias element material to create a first and a second bias element, each having a bias element length;
• wherein the first and the second bias elements abut opposite sides of the magnetoresistive sensor, and wherein the bias element length is about one-quarter to about five times the sensor width.