Magnetic coercivity ($H_c$)

Magnetic coercivity is the magnitude of a reverse applied magnetic field intensity required to bring a previously magnetized specimen's magnetization to zero on a specified hysteresis branch. It depends on material, preparation and measurement history. It differs from remanent magnetization, which is the remaining magnetization at zero applied field.

The magnitude of reverse magnetic field strength at which a previously magnetized specimen's magnetic flux density $B$ vanishes on a specified magnetic hysteresis branch. Intrinsic magnetic coercivity instead refers to zero magnetization. Because $B={\mu }_0(H+M)$, their zero conditions generally occur at different applied fields. The preparation, branch and specimen geometry must be specified when comparing measurements.