A "how are you?" is a question that you can ask someone to find out how they are doing. You might say this to someone when you see them, or when you are talking to them on the phone.
Some alternative examples of this question are "what's up?" or "what's going on?" These questions have the same meaning, and you can use them when you want to find out how someone is doing.
- How's it going?
- What's up?
- How's everything?
- How's life?
- What's new?
- What's going on?
- What's happening?
- What's the story?
- Tell me about it.
- What have you been up to?
- How have you been?
- You all right?
- You okay?
- Is everything okay?
- Are you alright?
- You good?
- All well?