Inodes – The File Count Limit

Most people never have to worry about inodes, but if you run a large website with thousands of small files (like a massive WordPress site or a busy email inbox), you might hit your inode limit even if you have plenty of disk space left.

1. What Exactly is an Inode?

In technical terms, "Inode" (Index Node) is a small data structure on a Linux server that stores metadata about a file, such as its owner, permissions, and location on the disk.

The Rule: 1 File/Folder = 1 Inode.

The Exception: File size doesn’t matter—a 1KB text file or a 10GB video both consume 1 inode.

2. Why do Hosting Providers limit Inodes?

If a single user creates millions of tiny files, the server must scan a massive "index" during backups or security scans. Limits prevent this from slowing down the entire server.

• Server Stability: Prevents file sprawl from overwhelming the system.
• Faster Backups: Fewer files mean faster, more efficient backups.
• Fair Resource Sharing: Ensures no single user hogs the server’s capacity.

3. What Happens if You Hit the Limit?

When your account reaches 100% of its inode allowance, your site may behave as if disk space is full:

• Uploads Fail: Cannot upload new images or themes.
• Email Issues: New emails cannot be stored.
• Website Errors: WordPress may show "Database Connection" errors.
• Updates Fail: Plugins or core software cannot be updated.

4. Common "Inode Hogs" and How to Fix Them

• Email Trash/Spam: Thousands of old emails use one inode each. Solution: Empty trash and spam folders regularly.
• Image Thumbnails: WordPress creates multiple sizes for each image. Solution: Use a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails to remove unused sizes.
• Cache Folders: Caching plugins can generate thousands of files. Solution: Clear plugin cache or use server-level caching like LiteSpeed.
• Old Backups: Storing backups locally consumes inodes. Solution: Move backups to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.

5. Inode Limits by Plan

• Shared Hosting: 100,000 – 250,000 inodes.
• VPS Hosting: Up to 1,000,000+ inodes.
• Dedicated Servers: Virtually unlimited (limited only by hardware).