tracking
This term carries a strong sense of persistence and precision. It suggests a continuous line of observation, whether that line is a physical trail of footprints in the dirt or a digital trail of data packets across a network. There is an inherent power dynamic involved, as the tracker holds the knowledge while the tracked is often unaware or being pursued. In modern usage, the word has shifted from the wilderness to the web. It now frequently evokes a feeling of surveillance or intrusion, particularly in the context of internet cookies and user behavior. While tracking a package is seen as a convenience, tracking a person's location often implies a lack of privacy or a security necessity.
Countable when referring to a specific instance of a tracked item (the tracking of the package). Uncountable when referring to the general process or technology (GPS tracking).
Meanings
The act of following the progress, movement, or location of a person or object.
"The GPS provides real-time tracking of the shipment."