.Forensics is a term that can be used by both the physical and digital world. In the physical world, forensics is associated with physical science investigations such as DNA examination and bloodstains. On the other hand, the digital world consists of seizure, analysis, and protection of digital evidence that can be obtained from physical or virtual storage devices. Forensic investigators retrieve and analyze data using forensic tools that cover a range of features and capabilities. However, these tools have not achieved a high degree of reliability and accuracy yet. As there are many tools currently available for researchers to utilize, this survey provides an extensive assessment of forensic domains and the complex issues and tools applicable for each domain. Additionally, this survey provides a balanced evaluation of the most popular forensic investigation tools in use today. In this survey, tools are experimentally evaluated by considering features of the tools as well as their respective product, performance, and functional metrics. The assessed tools are ranked using the weighted means of tool features, specifically in terms of reliability, scalability, and accuracy. These bench marked results and the discussion of open issues in digital forensics will serve in suggesting future research directions and aid in selecting the most suitable forensic tool for investigation in a timely manner.