---
title: "xConnect estimate tool"
slug: "xconnect-estimate-tool"
abstract: "Overview of the xConnect estimate tool that determines the size of a purge before you delete the data."
---
# xConnect estimate tool

The estimate tool allows you to get an estimated number of contacts and interactions for processing based on the filter parameters.

You can initiate an estimate task through a [Web API request](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/103/sitecore-experience-platform/web-api-for-xconnect-data-tools.html "Web API for xConnect Data Tools") or the [DevEx CLI xConnect plugin](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/103/sitecore-experience-platform/xconnect-devex-cli-plugin.html "xConnect DevEx CLI plugin").

## Technical details

The estimate tool extracts contact and interactions data from the collection database to count the affected records.

## Scalable Reads and the estimate tool

The estimate tool uses data extraction from the collection database based on the provided options.

You can optimize the estimate process by enabling the [Scalable Reads](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/103/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-scalable-reads.html) feature on xConnect.

Scalable Reads can route data extraction processes to the secondary node of the replicated collection database.