What it usually means
When a coworker, neighbor, cashier, or casual acquaintance says “How’s it going?”, they are often opening the interaction rather than asking for a detailed status report.
The important point is cultural: the answer is often short unless the relationship or situation invites more detail.
How much should you say?
With someone you know well, you can answer honestly and add detail. With a casual contact, a one-line answer is usually enough. A long explanation can feel unexpectedly heavy even when the grammar is perfect.
Where context changes it
At work, “How’s it going?” may simply mean “hello.” From a close friend, the same words can become a genuine invitation to talk. Tone, timing, and relationship do much of the work.
This is the kind of difference that separates correct English from natural English: the words are simple, but the social meaning is not.
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