Reviews are concerned with evaluating a work product, not the skills or participants who created the product. When performing or planning a review, it is essential to define the objective as well as decide how the review will be completed and who will participate in the review.

Reviews come in different forms and different techniques can be applied to carry them out. Common review techniques that can be applied are inspections, formal walkthroughs, single-issue reviews (technical reviews), informal walkthroughs, desk checks, and a pass-around. 

A review session may include an author (of the working product under review), a reviewer, a facilitator (if a formal walkthrough is conducted), and a scribe.