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Meetings & Communicationnoun · /wɔːk θruː/

walk-through

walk-through — A detailed explanation or guided demonstration of how something works, step by step.

In simple English

A walk-through is a structured way to go through something methodically, often in a meeting or review session. In software development, walk-throughs are commonly used during code reviews, when onboarding new team members, or before launching a feature. The person conducting the walk-through explains each step, shows what happens at each stage, and invites questions or feedback. It is different from a training session because walk-throughs are usually more focused on a specific piece of work, and different from a presentation because walk-throughs are more interactive and detailed. Walk-throughs help teams catch bugs early, ensure code quality, and make sure everyone understands the design and implementation.

How to say it: Noun is "walk-through" or "walkthrough". Verb is "walk through": "Walk me through it."

Understand what a walk-through means in software development and how to use it in team meetings.

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness4/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK

Say it like this

  • Let's do a quick walk-through of the code changes.
  • Can you walk us through the deployment process?
  • I will give you a walk-through of how the authentication works.

Use it at work

Offering

  • Can I give you a walk-through of the new dashboard?
  • I'll do a quick walk-through of the code.

Asking

  • Could you walk me through the setup?
  • Can we do a walk-through before the demo?

Afterward

  • Thanks for the walk-through. Really clear.
  • The walk-through is recorded.

Don't say this

✕We need to do a walk through of this feature.
✓We need to do a walk-through of this feature.

Walk-through must be hyphenated when used as a noun.

Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your manager asks you to explain how the new feature works to your team. What do you say?

Complete the sentence

2. Before we deploy to production, we should do a _______ of the entire deployment process.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses walk-through incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using walk-through: 'I need to explain to the team how the database migration will happen step by step.'

Say it out loud

Phrase 1 of 3

"Let's do a quick walk-through of the code changes."

We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.

More about walk-through

Real examples(3)

  • in a code review meeting

    "Before we merge this, I want to do a walk-through of the database schema changes with the team."

  • in a standup

    "Yesterday I completed a walk-through of the new API endpoints with the frontend developers."

  • in onboarding

    "On your first day, the tech lead will give you a walk-through of our development workflow."

More mistakes(2)

Handle with care. Often confused with walk through (two words, meaning to physically move through something). The hyphenated walk-through is a noun referring to a guided explanation or demonstration.

  • ✕I will walk-through you the system architecture.
    ✓I will walk you through the system architecture.

    When used as a verb phrase, it is walk through (two words). The hyphenated form is only a noun.

  • ✕Can you provide a walk-through on how to use Python?
    ✓Can you provide a walk-through of how to use Python?

    Use of instead of on when describing what the walk-through covers.

Other forms(2)

  • walk-through noun

    "The architect gave a walk-through of the system design."

  • walk through verb phrase

    "Let me walk you through the deployment steps."

Often used with(5)

  • give a walk-through · To provide or conduct a walk-through for someone.
  • do a walk-through · To perform or conduct a walk-through as a group activity.
  • quick walk-through · A brief, faster version of a walk-through covering the main points.
  • code walk-through · A walk-through specifically focused on reviewing source code.
  • security walk-through · A detailed review of security measures or vulnerabilities.

Similar words(4)

  • walkthrough · Same meaning but written as one word (less common in modern tech English).
  • code review · Similar process but walk-through is broader and can apply to any process or feature.
  • demo · Similar in showing how something works, but demo is usually more formal and polished; walk-through is more detailed and educational.
  • tutorial · Similar in teaching aspect, but tutorial is usually a recorded or written guide; walk-through is interactive and live.

Opposites(2)

  • black box (understanding nothing about the process)
  • abstraction (hiding implementation details)

Questions(5)

What is the difference between a walk-through and a code review?
A code review is specifically about examining source code for quality and bugs. A walk-through is broader and can apply to any process, feature, or system. Walk-throughs are also typically more educational and interactive, explaining the why behind decisions, not just the what.
How long does a walk-through typically take?
It depends on the complexity of what is being reviewed. A quick walk-through of a simple feature might take 15-30 minutes. A thorough walk-through of a complex system could take 1-2 hours or more. It is common to break longer walk-throughs into multiple sessions.
Is walk-through formal or informal?
Walk-through is neutral in formality. It is used in both casual team discussions and formal review meetings. It is a professional term but not overly formal.
Do I need to prepare for a walk-through?
Yes, it is good practice to prepare. If you are conducting the walk-through, organize your thoughts and materials in advance. If you are attending, read any relevant documentation beforehand to ask informed questions.
Can walk-through be used as a verb?
Not with a hyphen. The verb phrase is walk through (two words), as in walk me through the process. The hyphenated walk-through is only a noun.
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