Ultrafast optical manipulation of magnetic order is a rapidly developing field in modern magnetism, focusing on how subpicosecond laser pulses can control magnetic order in materials. This review discusses the interaction of light with magnetically ordered matter, highlighting the roles of spin-orbit, spin-lattice, and electron-lattice interactions. It covers both thermal and nonthermal effects, including photomagnetic and optomagnetic effects, which are crucial for understanding how light can manipulate magnetic moments on femtosecond timescales. The paper reviews experimental techniques such as pump-and-probe methods, optical, ultraviolet, and x-ray probes, and discusses the thermal effects of laser excitation, including ultrafast demagnetization and magnetization reversal. It also explores nonthermal photomagnetic effects, such as changes in magnetic anisotropy and spin precession, and nonthermal optomagnetic effects, including inverse Faraday and inverse Cotton-Mouton effects. The review emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms of photon-magnet interaction, including angular momentum transfer and the role of different reservoirs of angular momentum. The paper concludes with a discussion of the potential applications of ultrafast optical manipulation of magnetic order in spintronics, data storage, and quantum computation.Ultrafast optical manipulation of magnetic order is a rapidly developing field in modern magnetism, focusing on how subpicosecond laser pulses can control magnetic order in materials. This review discusses the interaction of light with magnetically ordered matter, highlighting the roles of spin-orbit, spin-lattice, and electron-lattice interactions. It covers both thermal and nonthermal effects, including photomagnetic and optomagnetic effects, which are crucial for understanding how light can manipulate magnetic moments on femtosecond timescales. The paper reviews experimental techniques such as pump-and-probe methods, optical, ultraviolet, and x-ray probes, and discusses the thermal effects of laser excitation, including ultrafast demagnetization and magnetization reversal. It also explores nonthermal photomagnetic effects, such as changes in magnetic anisotropy and spin precession, and nonthermal optomagnetic effects, including inverse Faraday and inverse Cotton-Mouton effects. The review emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms of photon-magnet interaction, including angular momentum transfer and the role of different reservoirs of angular momentum. The paper concludes with a discussion of the potential applications of ultrafast optical manipulation of magnetic order in spintronics, data storage, and quantum computation.