# Having large number of documents over one shard Vs multiple shards

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-large-number-of-documents-over-one-shard-vs-multiple-shards/5631>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [October 18, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-large-number-of-documents-over-one-shard-vs-multiple-shards/5631 "2011-10-18T17:42:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tarun\_Jangra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/tarun_jangra/32/1426_2.png) [@Tarun\_Jangra](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Tarun_Jangra)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-large-number-of-documents-over-one-shard-vs-multiple-shards/5631/1 "2011-10-18T17:42:38Z")

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This is really one of the most import decision need to take while creating indexes. Because shards are static and can not be added or removed once created. So Can i have expert suggestions about this comparison. We are suppose to have billions of documents over ES and obviously looking for Dam fast autocomplete full text search.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/having-large-number-of-documents-over-one-shard-vs-multiple-shards/5631/2 "2017-07-06T03:51:33Z")

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