A basic on-line dating site allows a user to register and create a profile; this profile is then used to help select possible partners. More advanced site allows the user to override, or expand some or all of the profile parameters, to widen the search. Most but not all dating sites are subscription based, meaning a new user is required to pay either a monthly or one off fee to join and use the site. Subscriptions vary but are seldom more than $10 per month. Sites that blatantly offer matchmaking for sexual purposes tend to carry the highest subscription fee.

Once a user has successfully subscribed, they will be asked to fill in a questionnaire, depending upon the quality of the on-line dating site, this can be quite a complex set of questions, covering not only physical characteristics and location, or as it has come to be known among dating site users, ASL (Age Sex Location), but more complicated, physiologically analytical questions.

Once the users profile is complete, they will either be presented with a set of possible partner matches, or be prompted to set search criteria, such as age, distance from place of residence, is a smoker or a non-smoker and other such key indicators. A search will then be performed and the results displayed, the user will then browse the results and initiate communication with any possible partners they feel might suite them. From this point on, the dating site merely acts as a communication hub for the two parties.