Definitely about the connection. If you have to ask the question then the couple probably isn't ready for the relationship.

I think that's more of a conversation to have rather than an assumption based on a certain amount of dates. Some people will not commit until it's made official by a conversation they will still date around where as others just feel we have been consistent and pop out in an introduction this is my girlfriend/boyfriend.

Depends on how the couple feels.

Depends on what and how the 2 people feel about one another. They set the timeline.