$indexcount

The $indexcount variable is set once, when a SQL statement is executed (e.g. before the first row is returned). It gives an estimate of how many rows will match the given query: its value is the number of matching rows (if determinable) found in the index(es) used by the query. This is different from $next, which is the exact number of returned rows so far (updated every iteration). See the SQL statement (here) for details. The $indexcount variable was added Oct. 24 1996. See also $sqlresult.returnedmin/$sqlresult.returnedmax, which may be more accurate, and set even when no index used. See also $sqlresult.indexcount.