Fountain

Buy mode
Fountains entered The Sims series as decorative Buy mode objects. These objects are available in The Sims, most expansion packs and some stuff packs in The Sims 2, and The Sims 3.

Build mode
The Sims 3: Late Night added fountains to Build mode. Fountains made with the fountain tool are essentially unusable pools, with a 'view' interaction in place of the 'swim' interaction, and can be created on both residential and community lots. The fountain tool also contains fountain objects such as water spouts, allowing players to customize their fountains. This allows the fountains to be more flexible than fountains available in buy mode. Unlike pool objects, the spouts can be placed out of the fountain.

Build mode fountains were later included in a patch, so players without Late Night could have access to the same functionality, provided they had updated their game. The patch also provided curved pools and fountains to players without the expansion.

With The Sims 3: Pets, dogs and cats are able to swim in a fountain.