Hanging out is a nebulous term covering a casual relationship that has risen to popularity recently and is often used as a catch-all tag phrase. Whereas dating implies a deeper level of commitment by both parties, the implication that the goal is actually a relationship.

Is it a date or friends hanging out?

If youre with a group of other people for the entire time, such as the other persons friend group, youre likely just hanging out. If you met via online dating through a dating app or an online dating website and this person asked you out after flirting for a couple of weeks, again, its likely a date.