Uploads multiply into thumbnails
One media upload can create many generated image sizes, so the number of files can grow much faster than the visible Media Library count.
Estimate WordPress file-count pressure before moving to hosting plans that enforce inode or file limits.
Adjust the inputs to generate a planning recommendation.
Inode limits are easy to miss because they are not the same as disk-space limits. A WordPress site can use modest storage while containing hundreds of thousands of small files from uploads, image sizes, caches, backups, staging copies and plugin directories.
One media upload can create many generated image sizes, so the number of files can grow much faster than the visible Media Library count.
Extracted backups, staging directories and migration plugins may temporarily duplicate much of the WordPress tree.
Some hosts count files, directories, mailboxes and cache files differently. Confirm the actual inode policy for the destination plan.
Practically for hosting limits, each file or directory often consumes an inode, though implementation details vary.
Temporary archives and extracted copies may exist alongside production files during the move.
Yes. File-based caches can create very large numbers of small files if not purged or controlled.