The ends of a solenoid behave like the poles of a magnet. The end where the magnetic field lines emerge is considered the north pole, while the end where the field lines enter is the south pole. This behavior is consistent with the right-hand rule for solenoids. When the fingers of the right hand encircle the solenoid in the direction of the current flow (clockwise or counterclockwise), the thumb points toward the magnetic north pole. This magnetic polarity is crucial for understanding the interaction of solenoids with other magnetic materials and their applications in devices like electromagnets and transformers.