Editing Islander

There are 36 islanders in total, starting with the original 18 islanders that debuted in {{DnM+|nolink}}, and an extra 18 added in {{DnMe+|nolink}}. In {{WW}}, only six islanders return as regular villagers. {{CF|short}} sees a return of four more islanders absent in {{WW|short|nolink}}, {{NL|short}} sees a return of twelve—six in the initial game, and six more in the {{NLWa|short}} update—and {{NH|short}} sees a return of two, both of which were only available after the release of the [[Animal Crossing: New Horizons/Update history/2.0|2.0 Free Update]]. As of {{NH|short|nolink}}, 12 islanders have not reappeared since {{DnMe+|nolink}}.

Islanders use the same system of six personalities as the mainland villagers which designates their daily routine and voice type. However, islanders share no dialogue with their mainland counterparts and have personalities that can differ drastically from mainland villagers' in conversation. [[Lazy]] islanders are stoic and philosophical hermits who speak in a depressive, taciturn manner. [[Jock]] islanders are casual and laidback rather than energetic, embodying the stereotypical "surfer dude" with characteristic interests and lingo. [[Cranky]] islanders are suave and flirtatious romantics who will make advances on the player with pleasant smooth talk and are slow to get upset; the [[smug]] personality introduced in {{NL|nolink}} may be loosely based on this personality. [[Normal]] islanders are whimsical and sensitive nature-lovers who often daydream about fairy tales and the souls of living things. [[Peppy]] islanders speak with the dialect of an old country woman and are bossy and tomboyish, coaching the player about sports or reminiscing about their glory days; the [[big sister]] personality introduced in {{NL|nolink}} may be loosely based on this personality. [[Snooty]] islanders are air-headed and melodramatic ditzes who show both a warmhearted and self-absorbed side, speaking in the excitable, emotional manner of a stereotypical teenage girl.

Because the island is a small, contained area, players cannot ask islanders for work or favors. Instead, islanders will request specific pieces of furniture from the player they are looking for, which they will use to decorate their home. Islanders will also commonly ask for furniture the player has on hand, even if it is not an item they are seeking. The islander will decorate using all items they have received, including all their requested items and up to four unrequested items. However, if they have more than one item, they will randomly select one piece each time to give back or sell to the visitor. All of the {{DnMe+|nolink}} islanders request the same furniture as the original {{PG|nolink}} islanders; for instance, [[Madam Rosa]] in ''e+'' requests the same items normally requested by [[Ankha]] in {{PG|nolink}}. Islanders dress in a distinct manner with female islanders wearing {{I|red aloha shirt|PG}}s by default and the male islanders wearing {{I|blue aloha shirt|PG}}s. They also commonly wear various accessories to distinguish their status as an islander. Prior to {{DnMe+|nolink}}, all female islanders (with the exception of Ankha) wear a flower in their hair, while cranky islanders wear a straw hat, and other characters were tropical leis or a backpack. Islanders can also ask for clothes in the player's inventory for them to change into. Since it is not possible for the player to exchange letters with islanders, islanders will instead ask the player to write something in their guest book which they can then display to others later.