Aluminum–titanium　hybrid　parts　provide　different　performance　advantages　and　realize　performance　complementarity　that　can　be　applied　in　aerospace　and　automobile　applications.　However,　aluminum　joined　to　titanium　by　fusion　welding　presents　challenges　in　achieving　good　joint　quality.　This　study　investigated　the　joining　of　aluminum　to　titanium　by　magnetic　pulse　welding,　a　solid-state　process　with　excellent　advantages　for　joining　dissimilar　materials.　The　influence　of　discharge　voltage,　radial　gap,　and　overlap　length　on　joint　quality　was　studied.　The　joint　with　the　highest　shear　strength　was　obtained　with　a　10　mm　overlap　length,　6.5　kV　discharge　voltage,　and　2　mm　radial　gap.　Joints　with　overlap　lengths　below　6 mm　have　the　highest　effective　joining　ratio.　The　overlap　length　affects　the　impact　mode　of　the　joint,　and　three　impact　modes　were　proposed:　bidirectional,　overall,　and　single-orientation　impact.　The　single-orientation　impact　mode　has　the　highest　effective　joining　ratio.　Finally,　investigations　revealed　that　the　pulse-welded　joint　is　a　composite　bond　consisting　of　mechanical　and　metallurgical　bonding　with　waves　and　intermetallic　compounds　as　two　of　its　important　characteristics.　©　2022,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　London　Ltd.,　part　of　Springer　Nature.