# Data Explorer query help: metrics to understand unique individual participants

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/data-explorer-query-help-metrics-to-understand-unique-individual-participants/72385>\
**Category:** Data & reporting\
**Tags:** sql-query\
**Created:** [19.Октябрь.2017 02:32:40 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/data-explorer-query-help-metrics-to-understand-unique-individual-participants/72385 "2017-10-19T02:32:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 11

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**Author:** ![vinothkannans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/vinothkannans/32/86465_2.png) [@vinothkannans](https://meta.discourse.org/u/vinothkannans)\
**Post date:** [04.Декабрь.2017 05:27:59 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/data-explorer-query-help-metrics-to-understand-unique-individual-participants/72385/11 "2017-12-04T05:27:59Z")

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> <https://github.com/discourse/discourse/blob/main/app/models/topic_featured_users.rb#L87-L88>

While calculating `participant_count` we are ignoring hidden post users.

> [@southpaw](#):
>
> [Kudo & Win](https://forums.republicwireless.com/t/kudo-win/8958) shows 17 participants in the query results, but when I unfold the info in the thread, I see 21 “users”. Actual count: 17.

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/2/5/25d475436e28246f8ac8f26069aaedc40ec2ae82.jpg)

![republic](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/0/5/05afd28544d3af8776e4a29acf7d24ec0fb53b42.jpg)

In above example (both images are from same topic) the first image includes hidden post users since logged in as admin. So it have 21 Frequent Posters. In second image while looking at the topic as anonymous user it correctly shows 17 Frequent users by excluding hidden posts.

For staffs we will render hidden (deleted) posts. That’s why it included them too in “Frequent Posters” list. Should we hide them?

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