nuance with exterior stairs- being pedantic humor me

[Jackson Long]

Okay so there is a porch and it is say 20 feet wide.  In the middle is a set three steps leading to the porch.  So you go from the ground up one step, two steps, three steps, and then step to the porch.

Is that four steps or three steps?

If you have "over three steps" you need a handrail.  

Honestly, I'd rather have a rail around the entire porch- but, as I said in the title, I am being pedantic and am curious about how this should be interpreted.