As an encoder, a stepper motor has nothing absolute. There is no stop, no indicator of position, you have to count steps and direction to give a sense of anything. As a motor, it works tge same way.

The code for turning the ESP8266 and a short handful of 74HC595s into a 3D printer controller are up on GitHub, so go check it out. ... I2S, shift register, stepper motor control.

The TSM14POE StepSERVO from Applied Motion includes a motor, encoder, drive, and controller combined in a single integrated motor package. Eliminating the need to connect motor power and feedback ...