targeting

The word “targeting” means the act or process of aiming something, or directing effort, at a specific person, group, or objective. In plain terms, the process of deciding what or who to aim something at.

Here is “targeting” used in a sentence: “The company's ad targeting relies on browsing history.”

“Targeting” is a noun.

“Targeting” is a fairly common word in modern English.

The correct spelling is targeting, with a single t. Because the stress in target falls on the first syllable, the final consonant is not doubled before -ing, in both British and American English. "Targetting" is a common misspelling.

In marketing, targeting is the process of directing advertising or other effort at a specific group of people, chosen because they are most likely to respond. An ad campaign might use targeting based on age, location, or interests rather than showing the same message to everyone.

Aiming usually describes the immediate physical act of pointing something, such as a camera or a dart, at an object. Targeting is the broader process of selecting a specific person, group, or objective and directing effort at it, so a campaign can involve targeting without anyone literally aiming at anything.

In American college football, targeting is a serious foul called when a player makes forcible contact with an opponent's head or neck area, or leads with the crown of the helmet, especially against a defenceless player. It carries a heavy penalty and can result in the offending player being ejected from the game.