Near is highly intelligent but appears childish, leading some to question his abilities. He enjoys solving complex problems and views investigations as puzzles. Despite being observant and skilled at multitasking, his social skills are poor, often relying on help from others. Near is calm, sometimes devious, and values results. He shows more emotion in the manga compared to the anime. After the series, he respects L and adopts his methods. Near has childlike interests, like playing with toys.