Anything called a lock or key counts, but things similar to locks or keys but not called as such do not count. See related market here.

• Update 2025-05-19 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The market question has been updated by the creator. The question is now: Are there more locks than keys?

• Update 2025-05-19 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator's comment indicates that the following types of digital items are considered for the count:

  • Database locks (such as those taken by SQL queries, as discussed in the thread)

  • Encryption keys

• Update 2025-05-20 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator confirms that abstract meanings of key are included in the count.

  • For example, a key in the sense of 'a crucial step or requirement' (as per Wiktionary definition 3 for 'key') counts. The creator has requested input on how such abstract keys would be quantified.

• Update 2025-05-20 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The abstract definition of key as 'a crucial step or requirement' (e.g., Wiktionary definition 3 for 'key') will not be counted. This reverses the information in the AI summary from 2025-05-20, which stated such abstract keys would be included.

• Update 2025-05-20 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has clarified how locks of hair will be counted:

  • Only one lock of hair per organism will be counted.

• Update 2025-05-20 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator acknowledged a user's argument for counting Lomer-Cottrell locks (a type of crystal dislocation) as 'good'. The creator also referenced user estimations and their own estimation method for such locks, suggesting their inclusion in the count.

• Update 2025-06-22 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has confirmed that the following items will be included in the count:

  • Keys on a keyboard

  • Keys on a piano

• Update 2025-06-22 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has clarified that abstract objects will not be counted, as there is no proper way to define their quantity.

• Update 2025-06-22 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has confirmed that a type of molecule will be counted as a lock, with an estimated quantity of 10^32.

• Update 2025-06-22 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has clarified the rule that an item must be called a lock or key to be counted:

  • Antibodies will not be counted as keys, as they are not called 'keys'.

  • This is in contrast to Lomer-Cottrell locks, which are counted because 'lock' is part of their name.

• Update 2025-06-22 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): Items that have been destroyed do not count. The market will be resolved based on the number of currently existing locks and keys.

• Update 2025-06-22 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has provided an estimate for the total number of encryption keys at 10^20.

• Update 2025-06-22 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has provided the calculation used to arrive at their estimate for the total number of encryption keys:

  • 10^16 keys generated daily over 10,000 days, for a total of approximately 10^20 keys.

• Update 2025-06-22 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has indicated they are considering a new estimate of 10^26 for chromatin lock, based on arguments presented in the comments.

• Update 2025-06-23 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): In a discussion regarding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the creator has established a new criterion for counting items:

  • Not all theoretically possible items will be counted, but those that are plausible will be.

  • Plausibility is defined as having at least a 30% chance of existence.

• Update 2025-06-23 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): To be counted, an item must be commonly called a lock or key by experts/20%< of general public in the relevant field.

• Update 2025-06-23 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has indicated that they will attempt to estimate the number of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), signalling their inclusion in the count of 'keys'.

• Update 2025-06-23 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has clarified that the Caps Lock on a keyboard will be counted as both a key and a lock.

• Update 2025-06-24 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has confirmed that digital keys, such as API keys, will be counted.

• Update 2025-06-26 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be excluded from the count of keys. This reverses a prior indication that they would be counted.

• Update 2025-06-27 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator has announced the final counts that will be used for resolution, resulting in locks winning.

  • Locks: 10^26

  • Keys: 10^20