Dating is a tryout for marriage. Dating offers you the chance to explore and learn before you make the serious commitment of marriage. You can move in with someone and share different aspects of your life to test out what marriage would be like with that person. Its not, however, the same as being married.

Is dating the same as girlfriend?

Generally speaking, dating describes a less serious level of commitment before either person is ready to describe the other as a girlfriend or boyfriend. This is not a firm rule because the terms have no strict definition.