Count search results

POST also GET /{index}/_count
POST also GET /_count

Auth

Get the number of documents matching a query.

The query can be provided either by using a simple query string as a parameter, or by defining Query DSL within the request body. The query is optional. When no query is provided, the API uses match_all to count all the documents.

The count API supports multi-target syntax. You can run a single count API search across multiple data streams and indices.

The operation is broadcast across all shards. For each shard ID group, a replica is chosen and the search is run against it. This means that replicas increase the scalability of the count.

Required authorization

Index privileges read

Path parameters

index union string | string[] optional

A comma-separated list of data streams, indices, and aliases to search. It supports wildcards (*). To search all data streams and indices, omit this parameter or use * or _all.

Leave it out to use /_count.

Query parameters

allow_no_indices boolean · default: true

If false, the request returns an error if any wildcard expression, index alias, or _all value targets only missing or closed indices. This behavior applies even if the request targets other open indices. For example, a request targeting foo*,bar* returns an error if an index starts with foo but no index starts with bar.

analyzer string

The analyzer to use for the query string. This parameter can be used only when the q query string parameter is specified.

analyze_wildcard boolean · default: false

If true, wildcard and prefix queries are analyzed. This parameter can be used only when the q query string parameter is specified.

default_operator enum · default: or

The default operator for query string query: and or or. This parameter can be used only when the q query string parameter is specified.

Values: and AND or OR

df string

The field to use as a default when no field prefix is given in the query string. This parameter can be used only when the q query string parameter is specified.

expand_wildcards union oneOf · default: open

The type of index that wildcard patterns can match. If the request can target data streams, this argument determines whether wildcard expressions match hidden data streams. It supports comma-separated values, such as open,hidden.

Supported values include:

all: Match any data stream or index, including hidden ones.
open: Match open, non-hidden indices. Also matches any non-hidden data stream.
closed: Match closed, non-hidden indices. Also matches any non-hidden data stream. Data streams cannot be closed.
hidden: Match hidden data streams and hidden indices. Must be combined with open, closed, or both.
none: Wildcard expressions are not accepted.

Values: all open closed hidden none

ignore_throttled boolean · default: true deprecated

If true, concrete, expanded, or aliased indices are ignored when frozen.

ignore_unavailable boolean · default: false

If false, the request returns an error if it targets a missing or closed index.

lenient boolean · default: false

If true, format-based query failures (such as providing text to a numeric field) in the query string will be ignored. This parameter can be used only when the q query string parameter is specified.

min_score number

The minimum _score value that documents must have to be included in the result.

preference string

The node or shard the operation should be performed on. By default, it is random.

routing string

A custom value used to route operations to a specific shard.

terminate_after number

The maximum number of documents to collect for each shard. If a query reaches this limit, Elasticsearch terminates the query early. Elasticsearch collects documents before sorting.

Important

Use with caution. Elasticsearch applies this parameter to each shard handling the request. When possible, let Elasticsearch perform early termination automatically. Avoid specifying this parameter for requests that target data streams with backing indices across multiple data tiers.

q string

The query in Lucene query string syntax. This parameter cannot be used with a request body.

Request body

query {} Query: Defines the search query using Query DSL. A request body query cannot be used with the q query string parameter.

Response

application/json

count number required
_shards object required