Xander has always been a typical high-school student. A little challenged by school-work, with a crush on a fellow student (Buffy) he spent his free time helping to slay Vampires. Everything you'd expect. Now he's a working joe, keeping up the same demon-magnet traditions as he had enjoyed in high school.

Xander (his middle name is Lavelle) first learned about Vampires the hard way. He was attacked by one. Later, his dislike for the undead was made more personal when they took his best friend, Jesse, and turned him into one. Xander was forced to slay him.

Although Xander had a huge crush on Buffy (who does not return the affection) he always refused to acknowledge the attraction of a girl who would never hesitate if he asked her out - Willow. Instead, Xander began a relationship with Cordelia, which consisted mostly of kissing in closets. But not everything in Xander's life is about kissing.
"Yeah - some stuff's about groping," says the man himself.

Xander has trouble with bugs. He fell for a giant praying mantis who wanted to mate with him (since he's a virgin) and then was nearly killed by a guy made out of bugs - one of the order of Taraka. Non-bug-related love problems include a centuries old mummy named Ampata that he fell in love with, and his current relationship with an ex-demon named Anyanka. As Xander says:
"I'm sick. I need help."

When trapped with Cordelia by the 'bug man' mentioned above, Xander found himself kissing Cordelia. The two later began dating, to everyone's surprise (not least of all his and Cordy's). When she broke up with him he even had a witch cast a spell to make him more attractive. Of course, the spell backfired, but he and Cordy got back together anyway.

However, bliss was not for them, as he found himself attracted to long-time-friend Willow Rosenberg. The two were discovered kissing, and Cordy broke up with Xander then and there. For a while he drifted, loveless, although he lost his virginity in unusual circumstances to Slayer Faith. Eventually, though, he found true love.

The only Scooby member not now in college, Xander is nonetheless an emotionally mature fellow. His advice to Buffy, regarding her personal life, is often more profound than anything ex-Watcher Rupert Giles spouts. His relationship with former demon Anya may seem shallow and tenuous, but it is in fact based on a deep love and respect that his friends never show to their partners. Despite outward appearances, Xander Harris is perhaps the most grown-up of the Slayerettes.

Although he would like to be helpful, Xander Harris finds it easier to make jokes than do any actual Slaying work, or research. He gets all the best lines in the show.