# Multi shard vs Multi index (Assuming same data)

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multi-shard-vs-multi-index-assuming-same-data/244103
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [August 6, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multi-shard-vs-multi-index-assuming-same-data/244103 "2020-08-06T22:53:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![TheWorkingDeveloper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/theworkingdeveloper/32/90834_2.png) [@TheWorkingDeveloper](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/TheWorkingDeveloper)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multi-shard-vs-multi-index-assuming-same-data/244103/1 "2020-08-06T22:53:36Z")

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I'm currently working on a project where I have quite a bit of freedom in the structure and size of data. Now, I'm wondering if there's performance difference between the following two scenarios:

Assuming a two node setup with identical hardware

Scenario 1:

- 1 Index with 2 Shards, 1 replica
- Shard 1 contains data A
- Shard 2 contains data B

Scenario 2:

- 2 Indices with 1 Shard, 1 replica
- Index 1 contains data A
- Index 2 contains data B

Similar concepts can be thought up with 3 or 4 shards where the data would be split evenly in 3 or 4 shards on one index or 1 shard for each of the 3 or 4 indices.  
In all honesty I'm expecting an answer to be that they have similar performance.

If that's the case I wonder if adding an extra node will have equal impact on both scenario's or will one scale better than the other?

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### Author: ![Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/christian_dahlqvist/32/4617_2.png) [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multi-shard-vs-multi-index-assuming-same-data/244103/2 "2020-08-07T14:31:22Z")

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It is the same. Querying one index with X primary shards is the same as querying X indices each with 1 primary shard.

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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: [September 4, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multi-shard-vs-multi-index-assuming-same-data/244103/3 "2020-09-04T14:31:26Z")

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