What is the purpose of using a factor in PHP when counting data in a database?

When counting data in a database using PHP, using a factor can help you accurately calculate the total count of records. This is especially useful when working with large datasets or when you need to account for duplicate entries. By using a factor, you can ensure that your count is precise and reflects the actual number of unique records in the database.

// Connect to the database
$connection = new mysqli("localhost", "username", "password", "database");

// Query to count the number of unique records in a table using a factor
$query = "SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT column_name) * factor AS total_count FROM table_name";
$result = $connection->query($query);

// Fetch the total count
$row = $result->fetch_assoc();
$totalCount = $row['total_count'];

// Display the total count
echo "Total count: " . $totalCount;