Well, people date to see if they really can be interested in that person for example.. Hanging out with them more to see how there personality is and if you like it.. Seeing if you can see yourself hanging out with this person, if you enjoy there company, and getting to know eachother more.. And if you like what you see on your dates and keep going then you get more comfortable with eachother and know eachothers real sides even more, if you like how they are, you will get more interested and most likely start a relationship than all the real things start