What does the symbol $ \#$ represent in mathematics?

80 Views Asked by At

What does the symbol $ \#$ represent in mathematics?

For example,

In J. Neukirch's algebraic number theory book (page $171$), it has been mentioned that-

the number $\# W_v$ of extensions equals the index $(G:G_w)$.

where $W_v$ is the set of extensions of valuations $v$ and $G_w$ is the decomposition group of automorphism.

What does the symbol $\#$ represent here?

Does this mean dimension or number?