query help

I want to display 5 records per category in my database. How can I query this?

 

By categry, you mean?

If you're asking about only displaying 5 records, try using a LIMIT.
http://php.about.com/od/mysqlcommands/g/Limit_sql.htm

 

an idea

$sql = "select * from category";
$query = mysql_query($sql);
while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($query)) {
for($i=1;$i<6;$i++) {
$sql2 = "select * from record";
$query2 = mysql_query($sql2);
$row2 = mysql_fetch_assoc($query2);
}
}

PHP:

 

That solution will slowdown the database... is there a a way to use sub query for this problem...

actually I am currently using this code...

$sql = "select category from table group by category";
$rec = mysql_query($sql) or die(mysql_error());
$datas = mysql_fetch_array($rec);

do{
$sq = "select * from table where category = '$datas[category]' limit 5";
$rst = mysql_query($sq) or die(mysql_error());
$datas1 = mysql_fetch_array($rst);
  do{
   echo $datas1[field1];
     }while($datas1 = mysql_fetch_array($rst));

}while($datas = mysql_fetch_array($rec));

Code (markup):

The problem with this code is very slow and use to much resources of server... which is not wise

 

SELECT * FROM category LIMIT 0,5

Code (markup):

Selects the first 5 records it finds.

 

This way ressources are minimum...

$sql = "SELECT * FROM `category` LIMIT 5";

PHP:

or if you know the start point:

$sql = "SELECT * FROM `category` LIMIT 80, 5";

PHP:

 

thanks but what I want is to make the code below a better query... a single query which is recomended than query inside loop. this will use to much resources.

$sql = "select category from table group by category";
$rec = mysql_query($sql) or die(mysql_error());
$datas = mysql_fetch_array($rec);

do{
$sq = "select * from table where category = '$datas[category]' limit 5";
$rst = mysql_query($sq) or die(mysql_error());
$datas1 = mysql_fetch_array($rst);
  do{
   echo $datas1[field1];
     }while($datas1 = mysql_fetch_array($rst));

}while($datas = mysql_fetch_array($rec));

Code (markup):