How does ionic bonding work?

When atoms form ions, they shed or gain electrons from their outer shell so that they only have full shells. Therefore, in ionic bonding, a positive ion (one that loses electrons giving it a positive) combines with a negative ion (one that gains electrons to form an ion) in order to create a molecule that is then neutral. In essence, the positive ion wants the extra electrons that a negative ion possesses. This idea of a positively charged ion being attracted to a negatively charged ion in order to form a neutral ion is: ionic bonding!