MySQL 8.0

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CREATE TABLE files (department INT, file VARCHAR(20));
INSERT INTO files (department, file) VALUES
(1, "Innovation Arch"),(1, "Strat Security"),(1, "Inspire Fitness Co"),(1, "Candor Corp"),
(2, "Cogent Data"),(2, "Epic Adventure Inc"),(2, "Sanguine Skincare"),(2, "Vortex Solar"),
(3, "Admire Arts"),(3, "Bravura Inc"),(3, "Bonefete Fun"),(3, "Moxie Marketing"),(3, "Zeal Wheels"),
(4, "Obelus Concepts");

Records: 14  Duplicates: 0  Warnings: 0


select * from files;


department
file


1
Innovation Arch

1
Strat Security

1
Inspire Fitness Co

1
Candor Corp

2
Cogent Data

2
Epic Adventure Inc

2
Sanguine Skincare

2
Vortex Solar

3
Admire Arts

3
Bravura Inc

3
Bonefete Fun

3
Moxie Marketing

3
Zeal Wheels

4
Obelus Concepts


select department, file from (
  select *, row_number() over(partition by department order by department) rn
  from files
)t
where rn <= 2 and department in (2,3,4);


department
file


2
Cogent Data

2
Epic Adventure Inc

3
Admire Arts

3
Bravura Inc

4
Obelus Concepts

department	file
1	Innovation Arch
1	Strat Security
1	Inspire Fitness Co
1	Candor Corp
2	Cogent Data
2	Epic Adventure Inc
2	Sanguine Skincare
2	Vortex Solar
3	Admire Arts
3	Bravura Inc
3	Bonefete Fun
3	Moxie Marketing
3	Zeal Wheels
4	Obelus Concepts