A slider of a head has a negative-pressure cavity which is formed in the facing surface and generates a negative pressure, a leading step portion which protrudes from the facing surface and is situated on an upstream side of the air current with respect to the negative-pressure cavity, and a leading pad which is provided on the leading step portion and faces the recording medium. The leading pad has an inlet end edge which is situated on the upstream side of the air current and extends throughout a length of the leading step portion in the transverse direction, and a plurality of recesses which individually open in the inlet end edge and extend in the longitudinal direction from the inlet end edge.