WordPress − Returns the number of candidate posts for the current query

gistfile1.inc

<?php

/**
 * Returns the number of candidate posts for the current query
 * 
 * Written because I saw some heavy code like that to do the same thing: http://theandystratton.com/2009/show-total-search-results-wordpress-search-template/
 * 
 * @version   1.0
 * @since     2010-05-23
 * @author    Oncle Tom <http://case.oncle-tom.net>
 * @return    integer Number of posts found
 */
function get_found_posts_count()
{
  global $wp_query;

  return $wp_query->found_posts;
}