Tracing

Tracing may refer to:

Mathematics
Curve Tracing: techniques for producing a rough idea of overall shape of a plane curve given its equation.

Computer graphics

 * Image tracing, digital image processing to convert raster graphics into vector graphics
 * Path tracing, a method of rendering images of three-dimensional scenes such that the global illumination is faithful to reality
 * Ray tracing (graphics), techniques in computer graphics
 * Boundary tracing (also known as contour tracing), a segmentation technique that identifies the boundary pixels of the digital region

Software engineering

 * Tracing (software), a method of debugging in computer programming
 * System monitoring
 * Application performance management

Physics

 * Ray tracing (physics), a method for calculating the path of waves or particles
 * Dye tracing, tracking various flows using dye added to the liquid in question

Other uses

 * Tracing (art), copying an object or drawing, especially with the use of translucent tracing paper
 * Tracing (criminology), determining crime scene activity from trace evidence left at crime scenes
 * Tracing (law), a legal process by which a claimant demonstrates what has happened to their property
 * Anterograde tracing, and Retrograde tracing, biological research techniques used to map the connections of neurons
 * Call tracing, a procedure that permits an entitled user to be informed about the routing of data for an established connection
 * Curve sketching, a process for determining the shape of a geometric curve
 * Family Tracing and Reunification, a process whereby disaster response teams locate separated family members
 * Tracking and tracing, a process of monitoring the location and status of property in transit
 * Curve tracing, a method for analyzing the characteristics of semiconductors; see Semiconductor curve tracer
 * Tracing (as with a gun or camera), tracking an object, as with the use of tracer ammunition
 * Contact tracing, finding and identifying people in contact with someone with an infectious disease