How to SELECT the newest four items per category?

Question

I have a database of items. Each item is categorized with a category ID from a category table. I am trying to create a page that lists every category, and underneath each

Answer 1

Depending on how constant your categories are, the following is the simplest route

SELECT C.CategoryName, R.Image, R.date_listed
FROM
(
    SELECT CategoryId, Image, date_listed
    FROM 
    (
      SELECT CategoryId, Image, date_listed
      FROM item
      WHERE Category = 'Pet Supplies'
      ORDER BY date_listed DESC LIMIT 4
    ) T

    UNION ALL

    SELECT CategoryId, Image, date_listed
    FROM
    (        
      SELECT CategoryId, Image, date_listed
      FROM item
      WHERE Category = 'Pet Food'
      ORDER BY date_listed DESC LIMIT 4
    ) T
) RecentItemImages R
INNER JOIN Categories C ON C.CategoryId = R.CategoryId
ORDER BY C.CategoryName, R.Image, R.date_listed