Dating, outlook and personality. Do they need to align for you?

Does it make sense to not want to date someone until you figure out nearly everything about their outlook and personality to see if it aligns with yours? Rather than figuring that stuff out during dates?

Basically my question is that: I see literally everyone say that you should date to “get to know her!” But what if I wanna know her before I date her? And then say “I think she’s the one! Now we can start dating and just have some more fun and get along cuz we believe we’re compatible enough.”?

I really don’t want to date someone who I don’t have shared interest & beliefs in, and I feel like I could figure that stuff out if we “hang out” (not dates), or if we’re in group hangouts or even at parties if we’re just talking. I also don’t want to risk getting my or her own heart broken because we tried dating and realized too late that “we might not work out”

What do you on SW think? Has anyone here dated with this kinda mindset and how did it go?