Unexpected notification badge over Google apps on iPhone

It's obviously something Google, and that number just appeared today. But the question is how to make the number go away without making Google stuff go away, like it's been for years. Something changed. What was it?

Boy, this is hard. There are several apps for Google stuff, and it really isn't clear what notification plasters numbers on top of icon folders. The information provided by those notifications sure don't describe anything like that. You keep saying "Remedy the underlying problem", but you haven't made clear what the underlying problem is. "Appropriate notification", eh? I'm here to ask WHAT that notification is. There are ZILLIONS of notifications in Settings, many of which are for Google stuff. I appreciate real help, but if you just don't know, then you might save yourself some effort.

So if I turn off notification in GMail entirely, the number goes away. That makes it clear that GMail notifications are doing it, as opposed to other Google apps. Not surprising, as there aren't 198 of any other Google things. I turned the GMail notifications back on and determined that it's "Badges" in GMail notifications that does it. Not entirely clear what a "Badge" is supposed to do, but I guess I'll just leave it off. I guess it somehow got turned on. Problem solved.

Now, this explains it. What are badges in notifications? - Apple Community "A notification badge is the little red circle with a number in it. " Yep.

Actually, i have zero unread messages. But I might well have that many read ones. But the question was, what setting made that number appear, and how do i get rid of that number.