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What are tokens, and how do I count them?

Reviewed October 17, 2026

Tokens are pieces of text processed by an AI model.

Answer

In English, a token is often roughly four characters, but this varies by language, model and content. Input and output both count. Relevant history, hashtag instructions, documents, reasoning and search context can add usage beyond the words you just typed. Check Account Management for recorded usage rather than treating the length of your message as the complete bill.