fix: allow all as value for signal

fix: validate links on read from db as well
refactor(dashboards-v2): make dynamic-variable signal a required field
2026-07-22 06:00:29 +01:00 · 2026-07-22 02:02:46 +05:30 · 2026-07-22 01:38:03 +05:30 · 2026-07-21 12:46:49 +05:30 · 2026-07-21 10:43:54 +05:30 · 2026-07-20 23:20:16 +05:30
24 changed files with 276 additions and 83 deletions
--- a/docs/api/openapi.yml
+++ b/docs/api/openapi.yml
@@ -2747,7 +2747,6 @@ components:
        links:
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/DashboardtypesLink'
-          nullable: true
          type: array
        panels:
          additionalProperties:
@@ -2764,6 +2763,7 @@ components:
      - variables
      - panels
      - layouts
+      - links
      type: object
    DashboardtypesDashboardView:
      properties:
@@ -2842,14 +2842,22 @@ components:
      required:
      - name
      type: object
+    DashboardtypesDynamicVariableSignal:
+      enum:
+      - traces
+      - logs
+      - metrics
+      - all
+      type: string
    DashboardtypesDynamicVariableSpec:
      properties:
        name:
          type: string
        signal:
-          $ref: '#/components/schemas/TelemetrytypesSignal'
+          $ref: '#/components/schemas/DashboardtypesDynamicVariableSignal'
      required:
      - name
+      - signal
      type: object
    DashboardtypesFillMode:
      enum:
@@ -3392,7 +3400,6 @@ components:
        links:
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/DashboardtypesLink'
-          nullable: true
          type: array
        plugin:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/DashboardtypesPanelPlugin'
@@ -3404,6 +3411,7 @@ components:
      - display
      - plugin
      - queries
+      - links
      type: object
    DashboardtypesPatchOp:
      enum:
--- a/frontend/src/api/generated/services/sigNoz.schemas.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/generated/services/sigNoz.schemas.ts
@@ -4625,9 +4625,9 @@ export interface DashboardtypesQueryDTO {
 export interface DashboardtypesPanelSpecDTO {
 	display: DashboardtypesDisplayDTO;
 	/**
-	 * @type array,null
+	 * @type array
 	 */
-	links?: DashboardtypesLinkDTO[] | null;
+	links: DashboardtypesLinkDTO[];
 	plugin: DashboardtypesPanelPluginDTO;
 	/**
 	 * @type array
@@ -4672,7 +4672,7 @@ export interface DashboardtypesDynamicVariableSpecDTO {
 	 * @type string
 	 */
 	name: string;
-	signal?: TelemetrytypesSignalDTO;
+	signal: TelemetrytypesSignalDTO;
 }

 export interface DashboardtypesVariablePluginVariantGithubComSigNozSignozPkgTypesDashboardtypesDynamicVariableSpecDTO {
@@ -4814,9 +4814,9 @@ export interface DashboardtypesDashboardSpecDTO {
 	 */
 	layouts: DashboardtypesLayoutDTO[];
 	/**
-	 * @type array,null
+	 * @type array
 	 */
-	links?: DashboardtypesLinkDTO[] | null;
+	links: DashboardtypesLinkDTO[];
 	/**
 	 * @type object
 	 */
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/dashboard/useCreateExportDashboard.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/dashboard/useCreateExportDashboard.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export function useCreateExportDashboard({
 					layouts: [],
 					panels: {},
 					variables: [],
+					links: [],
 				},
 			}),
 		{
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/VariableForm/DynamicVariableFields.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/VariableForm/DynamicVariableFields.tsx
@@ -14,17 +14,17 @@ import { isRetryableError } from 'utils/errorUtils';
 import {
 	DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_LABEL,
 	DYNAMIC_SIGNALS,
-	type DynamicSignalOption,
 	signalForApi,
+	type TelemetrySignal,
 } from '../variableFormModel';
 import styles from './VariableForm.module.scss';

 interface DynamicVariableFieldsProps {
 	attribute: string;
-	signal: DynamicSignalOption;
+	signal: TelemetrySignal;
 	onChange: (patch: {
 		dynamicAttribute?: string;
-		dynamicSignal?: DynamicSignalOption;
+		dynamicSignal?: TelemetrySignal;
 	}) => void;
 	onPreview: (values: (string | number)[]) => void;
 	/** Inline error shown under the attribute field (e.g. duplicate attribute). */
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ function DynamicVariableFields({
 						value: s,
 					}))}
 					onChange={(value): void =>
-						onChange({ dynamicSignal: value as DynamicSignalOption })
+						onChange({ dynamicSignal: value as TelemetrySignal })
 					}
 					data-testid="variable-signal-select"
 				/>
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/variableAdapters.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/variableAdapters.ts
@@ -13,11 +13,7 @@ import type {
 } from 'api/generated/services/sigNoz.schemas';

 import {
-	DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL,
-	DYNAMIC_SIGNALS,
-	type DynamicSignalOption,
 	emptyVariableFormModel,
-	signalForApi,
 	VARIABLE_SORT_DISABLED,
 	type VariableFormModel,
 } from './variableFormModel';
@@ -69,12 +65,8 @@ export function dtoToFormModel(
 			...listCommon,
 			type: 'DYNAMIC',
 			dynamicAttribute: plugin.spec.name ?? '',
-			// Unrecognized/empty signal → "all telemetry", so the source always shows.
-			dynamicSignal: DYNAMIC_SIGNALS.includes(
-				plugin.spec.signal as DynamicSignalOption,
-			)
-				? (plugin.spec.signal as DynamicSignalOption)
-				: DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL,
+			// signal is a required wire field ('' = all telemetry), so it's used as-is.
+			dynamicSignal: plugin.spec.signal,
 		};
 	}
 	// Default to Query (also covers a query plugin or a missing/unknown plugin).
@@ -102,7 +94,7 @@ function buildPlugin(
 				kind: DynamicPluginKind['signoz/DynamicVariable'],
 				spec: {
 					name: model.dynamicAttribute,
-					signal: signalForApi(model.dynamicSignal),
+					signal: model.dynamicSignal,
 				},
 			};
 		case 'QUERY':
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/variableFormModel.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/variableFormModel.ts
@@ -15,22 +15,14 @@ import { sortBy } from 'lodash-es';
 */
 export type VariableType = 'QUERY' | 'CUSTOM' | 'TEXT' | 'DYNAMIC';

-/** Telemetry signal — the generated enum (traces / logs / metrics). */
-// A query/variable signal is only logs/traces/metrics. TelemetrytypesSignalDTO
-// also carries the empty "any" value used on field keys, which is not a valid
-// query/variable signal, so exclude it here.
-export type TelemetrySignal =
-	| TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.logs
-	| TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.traces
-	| TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.metrics;
+/** Telemetry signal — the generated enum (traces / logs / metrics / '' = any). */
+export type TelemetrySignal = TelemetrytypesSignalDTO;

 /**
- * Signal selected in the dynamic-variable editor. `'all'` is UI-only (the
- * generated `TelemetrytypesSignalDTO` has no "all") — it searches across every
- * signal and maps to an omitted `signal` on the wire (see {@link signalForApi}).
+ * The empty signal (`''`) is the "all telemetry" value — it searches across every
+ * signal and round-trips to the wire as-is (no longer omitted).
 */
-export const DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL = 'all' as const;
-export type DynamicSignalOption = TelemetrySignal | typeof DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL;
+export const DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL = TelemetrytypesSignalDTO[''];

 /**
 * Sort order for list-variable values, keyed by the generated wire enum so the
@@ -73,24 +65,31 @@ export const VARIABLE_SORT_LABEL: Record<VariableSort, string> = {
 	[VARIABLE_SORT.CI_DESC]: 'Alphabetical, case-insensitive (descending)',
 };

-export const DYNAMIC_SIGNALS: DynamicSignalOption[] = [
+export const DYNAMIC_SIGNALS: TelemetrySignal[] = [
 	DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL,
 	TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.traces,
 	TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.logs,
 	TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.metrics,
 ];

-export const DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_LABEL: Record<DynamicSignalOption, string> = {
+export const DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_LABEL: Record<TelemetrySignal, string> = {
 	[DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL]: 'All telemetry',
 	[TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.traces]: 'Traces',
 	[TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.logs]: 'Logs',
 	[TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.metrics]: 'Metrics',
 };

-/** Maps the editor's signal selection to the wire value (`'all'` → omitted). */
+/**
+ * Field-keys/values API param. The empty "any" signal is omitted (that endpoint
+ * only accepts a concrete signal), everything else passes through.
+ */
 export function signalForApi(
-	signal: DynamicSignalOption,
-): TelemetrySignal | undefined {
+	signal: TelemetrySignal,
+):
+	| TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.traces
+	| TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.logs
+	| TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.metrics
+	| undefined {
 	return signal === DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL ? undefined : signal;
 }

@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@ export interface VariableFormModel {
 	textValue: string; // TEXT
 	textConstant: boolean; // TEXT
 	dynamicAttribute: string; // DYNAMIC — the telemetry field name
-	dynamicSignal: DynamicSignalOption; // DYNAMIC — the telemetry signal
+	dynamicSignal: TelemetrySignal; // DYNAMIC — the telemetry signal (`''` = any)

 	/**
 	 * Runtime-selected default, not editable in the management tab yet; carried
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelEditor/ConfigPane/PanelTypeSwitcher/utils.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelEditor/ConfigPane/PanelTypeSwitcher/utils.ts
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ const SIGNAL_LABEL: Record<TelemetrytypesSignalDTO, string> = {
 	[TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.logs]: 'logs',
 	[TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.traces]: 'traces',
 	[TelemetrytypesSignalDTO.metrics]: 'metrics',
-	// The empty "any" signal only appears on field keys, never on a panel query;
-	// mapped for exhaustiveness.
 	[TelemetrytypesSignalDTO['']]: '',
 };

--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelEditor/ConfigPane/sectionRegistry.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelEditor/ConfigPane/sectionRegistry.tsx
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ export const SECTION_REGISTRY: {
 	[SectionKind.ContextLinks]: {
 		Component: ContextLinksSection,
 		// Panel-level slice (spec.links), not under the plugin spec — no cast needed.
-		get: (spec): DashboardtypesLinkDTO[] | undefined => spec.links ?? undefined,
+		get: (spec): DashboardtypesLinkDTO[] => spec.links,
 		update: (spec, links): PanelSpec => ({ ...spec, links }),
 	},
 	// One editor for every threshold variant (label / comparison / table); the kind's
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelsAndSectionsLayout/Panel/tests/useDrilldownDashboardVariables.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelsAndSectionsLayout/Panel/tests/useDrilldownDashboardVariables.test.tsx
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ jest.mock(
 	'pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/DashboardSettings/Variables/variableFormModel',
 	() => ({
 		emptyVariableFormModel: (): unknown => ({}),
-		DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL: 'all',
+		DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL: '',
 	}),
 );
 jest.mock('components/OverlayScrollbar/OverlayScrollbar', () => ({
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelsAndSectionsLayout/Panel/hooks/useDrilldown.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelsAndSectionsLayout/Panel/hooks/useDrilldown.tsx
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ export function useDrilldown(
 				context={context}
 				query={v1Query}
 				isResolving={isResolving}
-				links={panel.spec.links ?? undefined}
+				links={panel.spec.links}
 				canSetDashboardVariables={dashboardVariables.hasFieldVariables}
 				onViewLogs={(): void => navigate('view_logs')}
 				onViewTraces={(): void => navigate('view_traces')}
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelsAndSectionsLayout/Panel/hooks/useDrilldownDashboardVariables.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/PanelsAndSectionsLayout/Panel/hooks/useDrilldownDashboardVariables.tsx
@@ -105,8 +105,7 @@ export function useDrilldownDashboardVariables({
 				type: 'DYNAMIC',
 				multiSelect: true,
 				dynamicAttribute: fieldName,
-				// `||` (not `??`): an empty "any" signal maps to All, same as unset.
-				dynamicSignal: signal || DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL,
+				dynamicSignal: signal ?? DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL,
 			};
 			try {
 				await patchAsync(
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/patchOps.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPageV2/DashboardContainer/patchOps.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export function createDefaultPanel(
 				spec: pluginSpec,
 			} as DashboardtypesPanelPluginDTO,
 			queries,
+			links: [],
 		},
 	};
 }
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardsListPageV2/components/NewDashboardModal/BlankDashboardPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardsListPageV2/components/NewDashboardModal/BlankDashboardPanel.tsx
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ function BlankDashboardPanel({ onClose }: Props): JSX.Element {
 					layouts: [],
 					panels: {},
 					variables: [],
+					links: [],
 				},
 			});
 			onClose();
--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_dashboard_convertors_test.go
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_dashboard_convertors_test.go
@@ -54,10 +54,12 @@ func newTestDashboardV2(t *testing.T, orgID valuer.UUID, source Source) *Dashboa
 							},
 						},
 					},
+					Links: []Link{},
 				},
 			},
 		},
 		Layouts: []Layout{},
+		Links:   []Link{},
 	}

 	return &DashboardV2{
--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_dashboard_data.go
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_dashboard_data.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ type DashboardSpec struct {
 	Layouts         []Layout                   `json:"layouts" required:"true" nullable:"false"`
 	Duration        common.DurationString      `json:"duration"`
 	RefreshInterval common.DurationString      `json:"refreshInterval"`
-	Links           []Link                     `json:"links,omitzero"`
+	Links           []Link                     `json:"links" required:"true" nullable:"false"`
 }

 // ══════════════════════════════════════════════
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ func (d *DashboardSpec) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 	return d.Validate()
 }

+// validateLinks rejects a missing/null spec.links value: a typed client must
+// send [] rather than omitting links, so its value round-trips faithfully.
+// Panel links are the panel spec's concern, validated in validatePanels.
+func (d *DashboardSpec) validateLinks() error {
+	if d.Links == nil {
+		return errors.NewInvalidInputf(ErrCodeDashboardInvalidInput, "spec.links is required; send [] when there are no links")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // ══════════════════════════════════════════════
 // Cross-field validation
 // ══════════════════════════════════════════════
@@ -53,6 +63,9 @@ func (d *DashboardSpec) Validate() error {
 	if err := d.Display.Validate("dashboard", "spec.display.name"); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := d.validateLinks(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := d.validateVariables(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -104,6 +117,9 @@ func (d *DashboardSpec) validatePanels() error {
 		if err := panel.Spec.Display.Validate("panel", path+".spec.display.name"); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		if err := panel.Spec.validateLinks(path); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		panelKind := panel.Spec.Plugin.Kind
 		if len(panel.Spec.Queries) != 1 {
 			return errors.NewInvalidInputf(ErrCodeDashboardInvalidInput, "%s.spec.queries: panel must have one query", path)
--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_dashboard_patch_test.go
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_dashboard_patch_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const basePostableJSON = `{
 	"tags": [{"key": "team", "value": "alpha"}, {"key": "env", "value": "prod"}],
 	"spec": {
 		"display": {"name": "Service overview"},
+		"links": [],
 		"variables": [
 			{
 				"kind": "ListVariable",
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ const basePostableJSON = `{
 			"p1": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": [
 						{
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ const basePostableJSON = `{
 			"p2": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/NumberPanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": [
 						{
@@ -182,6 +185,7 @@ func TestPatchableDashboardV2_Apply(t *testing.T) {
 			"value": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": [{
 						"kind": "time_series",
@@ -216,6 +220,7 @@ func TestPatchableDashboardV2_Apply(t *testing.T) {
 			"value": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BarChartPanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": [{
 						"kind": "time_series",
@@ -327,7 +332,7 @@ func TestPatchableDashboardV2_Apply(t *testing.T) {
 		// Appending needs a not-yet-placed panel, so add one in the same patch;
 		// re-placing p1 or p2 would be a duplicate reference.
 		out, err := decode(t, `[
-			{"op": "add", "path": "/spec/panels/p3", "value": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": [{"expression": "count()"}]}}}}]}}},
+			{"op": "add", "path": "/spec/panels/p3", "value": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"links": [], "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": [{"expression": "count()"}]}}}}]}}},
 			{"op": "add", "path": "/spec/layouts/0/spec/items/-", "value": {"x": 0, "y": 6, "width": 12, "height": 6, "content": {"$ref": "#/spec/panels/p3"}}}
 		]`).Apply(base)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -346,6 +351,7 @@ func TestPatchableDashboardV2_Apply(t *testing.T) {
 				"value": {
 					"kind": "Panel",
 					"spec": {
+						"links": [],
 						"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}},
 						"queries": [{
 							"kind": "time_series",
@@ -496,7 +502,7 @@ func TestPatchableDashboardV2_Apply(t *testing.T) {
 			"path": "/spec/panels/p1",
 			"value": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
-				"spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/NotAPanel", "spec": {}}}
+				"spec": {"links": [], "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/NotAPanel", "spec": {}}}
 			}
 		}]`).Apply(base)
 		require.Error(t, err)
@@ -512,6 +518,7 @@ func TestPatchableDashboardV2_Apply(t *testing.T) {
 			"value": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/ListPanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/PromQLQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "query": "up"}}}}]
 				}
@@ -537,6 +544,7 @@ func TestPatchableDashboardV2_Apply(t *testing.T) {
 			"value": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": [
 						{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {
--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_dashboard_test.go
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_dashboard_test.go
@@ -51,10 +51,12 @@ func TestUnmarshalErrorPreservesNestedMessage(t *testing.T) {
 			"p1": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "NonExistentPanel", "spec": {}}
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)

@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@ func TestUnmarshalErrorPreservesNestedMessage(t *testing.T) {

 func TestValidateEmptySpec(t *testing.T) {
 	// no variables no panels
-	data := []byte(`{}`)
+	data := []byte(`{"links": []}`)
 	_, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "expected valid")
 }
@@ -107,6 +109,7 @@ func TestValidateOnlyVariables(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 		],
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	_, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -133,6 +136,7 @@ func TestInvalidateDuplicateVariableNames(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 		],
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	_, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -157,6 +161,7 @@ func TestInvalidateVariableNameWithInvalidChars(t *testing.T) {
 					}
 				}
 			],
+			"links": [],
 			"layouts": []
 		}`)
 	}
@@ -186,6 +191,7 @@ func TestInvalidatePanelKey(t *testing.T) {
 			"bad key!": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": [{
 						"kind": "time_series",
@@ -196,6 +202,7 @@ func TestInvalidatePanelKey(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	_, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -219,6 +226,7 @@ func TestInvalidateListVariableCrossFields(t *testing.T) {
 					}
 				}
 			],
+			"links": [],
 			"layouts": []
 		}`)
 	}
@@ -257,6 +265,7 @@ func TestInvalidateEmptyVariableName(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := map[string][]byte{
 		"text variable": []byte(`{
 			"variables": [{"kind": "TextVariable", "spec": {"name": "", "value": "x"}}],
+			"links": [],
 			"layouts": []
 		}`),
 		"list variable": []byte(`{
@@ -269,6 +278,7 @@ func TestInvalidateEmptyVariableName(t *testing.T) {
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/DynamicVariable", "spec": {"name": "service.name", "signal": "metrics"}}
 				}
 			}],
+			"links": [],
 			"layouts": []
 		}`),
 	}
@@ -294,10 +304,12 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {"kind": "NonExistentPanel", "spec": {}}
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "NonExistentPanel",
@@ -313,6 +325,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "unknown panel kind",
@@ -324,6 +337,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 							"queries": [{
 								"kind": "time_series",
@@ -334,6 +348,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "FakeQueryPlugin",
@@ -345,6 +360,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 							"queries": [{
 								"kind": "TimeSeriesQuery",
@@ -355,6 +371,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "unknown request type",
@@ -366,6 +383,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 							"queries": [{
 								"kind": "",
@@ -376,6 +394,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "unknown request type",
@@ -392,6 +411,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 						"plugin": {"kind": "FakeVariable", "spec": {}}
 					}
 				}],
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "FakeVariable",
@@ -405,6 +425,7 @@ func TestInvalidateUnknownPluginKind(t *testing.T) {
 						"plugin": {"kind": "FakeDatasource", "spec": {}}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "FakeDatasource",
@@ -425,13 +446,14 @@ func TestInvalidateOneInvalidPanel(t *testing.T) {
 		"panels": {
 			"good": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
-				"spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/NumberPanel", "spec": {}}}
+				"spec": {"links": [],"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/NumberPanel", "spec": {}}}
 			},
 			"bad": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
-				"spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "FakePanel", "spec": {}}}
+				"spec": {"links": [],"plugin": {"kind": "FakePanel", "spec": {}}}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	_, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -444,6 +466,7 @@ func TestInvalidateLayoutPanelReferences(t *testing.T) {
 		"p1": {
 			"kind": "Panel",
 			"spec": {
+				"links": [],
 				"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}},
 				"queries": [{
 					"kind": "time_series",
@@ -455,7 +478,7 @@ func TestInvalidateLayoutPanelReferences(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}`
 	layout := func(items string) []byte {
-		return []byte(`{` + validPanels + `, "layouts": [{"kind": "Grid", "spec": {"items": [` + items + `]}}]}`)
+		return []byte(`{` + validPanels + `, "links": [], "layouts": [{"kind": "Grid", "spec": {"items": [` + items + `]}}]}`)
 	}

 	tests := []struct {
@@ -511,6 +534,7 @@ func TestRejectUnknownFieldsInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {"bogusField": true}
@@ -518,6 +542,7 @@ func TestRejectUnknownFieldsInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "bogusField",
@@ -529,6 +554,7 @@ func TestRejectUnknownFieldsInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 							"queries": [{
 								"kind": "time_series",
@@ -542,6 +568,7 @@ func TestRejectUnknownFieldsInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "unknownThing",
@@ -561,6 +588,7 @@ func TestRejectUnknownFieldsInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				}],
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "extraField",
@@ -589,6 +617,7 @@ func TestInvalidateWrongFieldTypeInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {"visualization": {"fillSpans": "notabool"}}
@@ -596,6 +625,7 @@ func TestInvalidateWrongFieldTypeInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "fillSpans",
@@ -607,6 +637,7 @@ func TestInvalidateWrongFieldTypeInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 							"queries": [{
 								"kind": "time_series",
@@ -620,6 +651,7 @@ func TestInvalidateWrongFieldTypeInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "",
@@ -639,6 +671,7 @@ func TestInvalidateWrongFieldTypeInPluginSpec(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				}],
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "",
@@ -669,6 +702,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {}
@@ -685,6 +719,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "signal",
@@ -696,6 +731,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {"chartAppearance": {"lineInterpolation": "cubic"}}
@@ -703,6 +739,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "line interpolation",
@@ -714,6 +751,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {"chartAppearance": {"lineStyle": "dotted"}}
@@ -721,6 +759,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "line style",
@@ -732,6 +771,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {"chartAppearance": {"fillMode": "striped"}}
@@ -739,6 +779,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "fill mode",
@@ -750,6 +791,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {"chartAppearance": {"spanGaps": {"fillOnlyBelow": true, "fillLessThan": "notaduration"}}}
@@ -757,6 +799,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "duration",
@@ -768,6 +811,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {"visualization": {"timePreference": "last2Hr"}}
@@ -775,6 +819,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "timePreference",
@@ -786,6 +831,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/BarChartPanel",
 								"spec": {"legend": {"position": "top"}}
@@ -793,6 +839,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "legend position",
@@ -804,6 +851,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/BarChartPanel",
 								"spec": {"legend": {"mode": "grid"}}
@@ -811,6 +859,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "legend mode",
@@ -822,6 +871,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/NumberPanel",
 								"spec": {"thresholds": [{"value": 100, "operator": "above", "color": "Red", "format": "Color"}]}
@@ -829,6 +879,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "threshold format",
@@ -840,6 +891,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/NumberPanel",
 								"spec": {"thresholds": [{"value": 100, "operator": "!=", "color": "Red", "format": "text"}]}
@@ -847,6 +899,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "comparison operator",
@@ -858,6 +911,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {
 								"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 								"spec": {"formatting": {"decimalPrecision": "9"}}
@@ -865,6 +919,7 @@ func TestInvalidateBadPanelSpecValues(t *testing.T) {
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`,
 			wantContain: "precision",
@@ -896,11 +951,13 @@ func TestThresholdLabelOptional(t *testing.T) {
 					"p1": {
 						"kind": "Panel",
 						"spec": {
+							"links": [],
 							"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {"thresholds": [` + tt.threshold + `]}},
 							"queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/PromQLQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "query": "up"}}}}]
 						}
 					}
 				},
+				"links": [],
 				"layouts": []
 			}`)
 			d, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -918,9 +975,10 @@ func TestInvalidatePanelWithoutQueries(t *testing.T) {
 		"panels": {
 			"p1": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
-				"spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}}}
+				"spec": {"links": [],"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}}}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	_, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -934,11 +992,13 @@ func TestInvalidatePanelWithEmptyQueriesArray(t *testing.T) {
 			"p1": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": []
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	_, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -954,6 +1014,7 @@ func TestInvalidatePanelWithMultipleDirectQueries(t *testing.T) {
 			"p1": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 					"queries": [
 						{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "metrics"}}}},
@@ -962,6 +1023,7 @@ func TestInvalidatePanelWithMultipleDirectQueries(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	_, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -981,6 +1043,7 @@ func TestValidateRequiredFields(t *testing.T) {
 					"plugin": {"kind": "` + pluginKind + `", "spec": ` + pluginSpec + `}
 				}
 			}],
+			"links": [],
 			"layouts": []
 		}`
 	}
@@ -990,10 +1053,12 @@ func TestValidateRequiredFields(t *testing.T) {
 				"p1": {
 					"kind": "Panel",
 					"spec": {
+						"links": [],
 						"plugin": {"kind": "` + panelKind + `", "spec": ` + panelSpec + `}
 					}
 				}
 			},
+			"links": [],
 			"layouts": []
 		}`
 	}
@@ -1058,6 +1123,7 @@ func TestTimeSeriesPanelDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 			"p1": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {
 						"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 						"spec": {}
@@ -1066,6 +1132,7 @@ func TestTimeSeriesPanelDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	d, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -1108,6 +1175,7 @@ func TestNumberPanelDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 			"p1": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {
 						"kind": "signoz/NumberPanel",
 						"spec": {"thresholds": [{"value": 100, "color": "Red"}]}
@@ -1116,6 +1184,7 @@ func TestNumberPanelDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	d, err := unmarshalDashboard(data)
@@ -1169,6 +1238,7 @@ func TestStorageRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 			"p1": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {
 						"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
 						"spec": {}
@@ -1179,6 +1249,7 @@ func TestStorageRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 			"p2": {
 				"kind": "Panel",
 				"spec": {
+					"links": [],
 					"plugin": {
 						"kind": "signoz/NumberPanel",
 						"spec": {"thresholds": [{"value": 100, "color": "Red"}]}
@@ -1187,6 +1258,7 @@ func TestStorageRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)

@@ -1247,7 +1319,7 @@ func TestStorageRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 }

 func TestPostableDashboardV2GenerateNameFlag(t *testing.T) {
-	const validSpec = `"spec": {"panels": {}, "layouts": []}`
+	const validSpec = `"spec": {"panels": {}, "layouts": [], "links": []}`

 	tests := []struct {
 		scenario     string
@@ -1259,13 +1331,13 @@ func TestPostableDashboardV2GenerateNameFlag(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{
 			scenario:    "flag true with display.name derives name on conversion",
-			body:        `{"schemaVersion":"` + SchemaVersion + `","generateName":true,"spec":{"display":{"name":"My Dashboard!"},"panels":{},"layouts":[]}}`,
+			body:        `{"schemaVersion":"` + SchemaVersion + `","generateName":true,"spec":{"display":{"name":"My Dashboard!"},"panels":{},"layouts":[],"links":[]}}`,
 			wantName:    "",
 			wantDisplay: "My Dashboard!",
 		},
 		{
 			scenario:     "flag true with non-empty name is rejected",
-			body:         `{"schemaVersion":"` + SchemaVersion + `","name":"already-set","generateName":true,"spec":{"display":{"name":"My Dashboard"},"panels":{},"layouts":[]}}`,
+			body:         `{"schemaVersion":"` + SchemaVersion + `","name":"already-set","generateName":true,"spec":{"display":{"name":"My Dashboard"},"panels":{},"layouts":[],"links":[]}}`,
 			wantErr:      true,
 			wantErrMatch: "name must be empty when generateName is true",
 		},
@@ -1425,20 +1497,24 @@ func TestPanelTypeQueryTypeCompatibility(t *testing.T) {
 	mkQuery := func(panelKind, queryKind, querySpec string) []byte {
 		return []byte(`{
 			"panels": {"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {
+				"links": [],
 				"plugin": {"kind": "` + panelKind + `", "spec": {}},
 				"queries": [{"kind": "` + requestKind(panelKind) + `", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "` + queryKind + `", "spec": ` + querySpec + `}}}]
 			}}},
+			"links": [],
 			"layouts": []
 		}`)
 	}
 	mkComposite := func(panelKind, subType, subSpec string) []byte {
 		return []byte(`{
 			"panels": {"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {
+				"links": [],
 				"plugin": {"kind": "` + panelKind + `", "spec": {}},
 				"queries": [{"kind": "` + requestKind(panelKind) + `", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/CompositeQuery", "spec": {
 					"queries": [{"type": "` + subType + `", "spec": ` + subSpec + `}]
 				}}}}]
 			}}},
+			"links": [],
 			"layouts": []
 		}`)
 	}
@@ -1482,11 +1558,13 @@ func TestCommaSeparatedAggregationRejectedOnWrite(t *testing.T) {
 	buildDashboardWithLogsAggregation := func(aggregationsJSON string) []byte {
 		return []byte(`{
 		"panels": {"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {
+			"links": [],
 			"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
 			"queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {
 				"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": ` + aggregationsJSON + `
 			}}}}]
 		}}},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": []
 	}`)
 	}
@@ -1600,9 +1678,10 @@ func TestValidateGridItemLimit(t *testing.T) {
 func TestInvalidateLayoutOverlapViaUnmarshal(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{
 		"panels": {
-			"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": [{"expression": "count()"}]}}}}]}},
-			"p2": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": [{"expression": "count()"}]}}}}]}}
+			"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"links": [],"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": [{"expression": "count()"}]}}}}]}},
+			"p2": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"links": [],"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": [{"expression": "count()"}]}}}}]}}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": [{"kind": "Grid", "spec": {"items": [
 			{"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 6, "height": 6, "content": {"$ref": "#/spec/panels/p1"}},
 			{"x": 3, "y": 3, "width": 6, "height": 6, "content": {"$ref": "#/spec/panels/p2"}}
@@ -1619,8 +1698,9 @@ func TestInvalidateLayoutOverlapViaUnmarshal(t *testing.T) {
 func TestInvalidateDuplicatePanelReference(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{
 		"panels": {
-			"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": [{"expression": "count()"}]}}}}]}}
+			"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"links": [],"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": [{"kind": "time_series", "spec": {"plugin": {"kind": "signoz/BuilderQuery", "spec": {"name": "A", "signal": "logs", "aggregations": [{"expression": "count()"}]}}}}]}}
 		},
+		"links": [],
 		"layouts": [{"kind": "Grid", "spec": {"items": [
 			{"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 6, "height": 6, "content": {"$ref": "#/spec/panels/p1"}},
 			{"x": 6, "y": 0, "width": 6, "height": 6, "content": {"$ref": "#/spec/panels/p1"}}
@@ -1650,31 +1730,31 @@ func TestInvalidateDisplayNameTooLong(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{
 			scenario:      "dashboard display name",
-			dashboardJSON: `{"display": {"name": "` + tooLong + `"}, "layouts": []}`,
+			dashboardJSON: `{"display": {"name": "` + tooLong + `"}, "links": [], "layouts": []}`,
 			expectedLabel: "dashboard",
 			expectedPath:  "spec.display.name",
 		},
 		{
 			scenario:      "panel display name",
-			dashboardJSON: `{"panels": {"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"display": {"name": "` + tooLong + `"}, "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": []}}}, "layouts": []}`,
+			dashboardJSON: `{"panels": {"p1": {"kind": "Panel", "spec": {"links": [],"display": {"name": "` + tooLong + `"}, "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}}, "queries": []}}}, "links": [], "layouts": []}`,
 			expectedLabel: "panel",
 			expectedPath:  "spec.panels.p1.spec.display.name",
 		},
 		{
 			scenario:      "list variable display name",
-			dashboardJSON: `{"variables": [{"kind": "ListVariable", "spec": {"name": "svc", "display": {"name": "` + tooLong + `"}, "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/DynamicVariable", "spec": {"name": "service.name", "signal": "metrics"}}}}], "layouts": []}`,
+			dashboardJSON: `{"variables": [{"kind": "ListVariable", "spec": {"name": "svc", "display": {"name": "` + tooLong + `"}, "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/DynamicVariable", "spec": {"name": "service.name", "signal": "metrics"}}}}], "links": [], "layouts": []}`,
 			expectedLabel: "variable",
 			expectedPath:  "spec.variables[0].spec.display.name",
 		},
 		{
 			scenario:      "text variable display name",
-			dashboardJSON: `{"variables": [{"kind": "TextVariable", "spec": {"name": "mytext", "value": "v", "display": {"name": "` + tooLong + `"}}}], "layouts": []}`,
+			dashboardJSON: `{"variables": [{"kind": "TextVariable", "spec": {"name": "mytext", "value": "v", "display": {"name": "` + tooLong + `"}}}], "links": [], "layouts": []}`,
 			expectedLabel: "variable",
 			expectedPath:  "spec.variables[0].spec.display.name",
 		},
 		{
 			scenario:      "layout title",
-			dashboardJSON: `{"layouts": [{"kind": "Grid", "spec": {"display": {"title": "` + tooLong + `"}, "items": []}}]}`,
+			dashboardJSON: `{"links": [], "layouts": [{"kind": "Grid", "spec": {"display": {"title": "` + tooLong + `"}, "items": []}}]}`,
 			expectedLabel: "layout",
 			expectedPath:  "spec.layouts[0].spec.display.title",
 		},
@@ -1694,7 +1774,7 @@ func TestInvalidateDisplayNameTooLong(t *testing.T) {
 // A display name at exactly the limit is accepted.
 func TestValidateDisplayNameAtMaxLength(t *testing.T) {
 	atLimit := strings.Repeat("x", MaxDisplayNameLen)
-	_, err := unmarshalDashboard([]byte(`{"display": {"name": "` + atLimit + `"}, "layouts": []}`))
+	_, err := unmarshalDashboard([]byte(`{"display": {"name": "` + atLimit + `"}, "links": [], "layouts": []}`))
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }

--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_public_dashboard_redaction_test.go
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_public_dashboard_redaction_test.go
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func TestRedactVariableQueries(t *testing.T) {

 	t.Run("leaves non-query variables untouched", func(t *testing.T) {
 		spec := DashboardSpec{Variables: []Variable{
-			{Kind: variable.KindList, Spec: &ListVariableSpec{Name: "signal", Plugin: VariablePlugin{Kind: VariableKindDynamic, Spec: &DynamicVariableSpec{Name: "service.name", Signal: telemetrytypes.SignalTraces}}}},
+			{Kind: variable.KindList, Spec: &ListVariableSpec{Name: "signal", Plugin: VariablePlugin{Kind: VariableKindDynamic, Spec: &DynamicVariableSpec{Name: "service.name", Signal: DynamicVariableSignalTraces}}}},
 			{Kind: variable.KindList, Spec: &ListVariableSpec{Name: "env", Plugin: VariablePlugin{Kind: VariableKindCustom, Spec: &CustomVariableSpec{CustomValue: "prod,staging"}}}},
 		}}

--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_replicas.go
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_replicas.go
@@ -78,7 +78,17 @@ type PanelSpec struct {
 	Display Display     `json:"display" required:"true"`
 	Plugin  PanelPlugin `json:"plugin" required:"true"`
 	Queries []Query     `json:"queries" required:"true" nullable:"false"`
-	Links   []Link      `json:"links,omitzero"`
+	Links   []Link      `json:"links" required:"true" nullable:"false"`
+}
+
+// validateLinks rejects a missing/null links field, where path is the panel's
+// location (e.g. "spec.panels.<key>"). A typed client must send [] rather than
+// omitting links, so its value round-trips faithfully.
+func (s *PanelSpec) validateLinks(path string) error {
+	if s.Links == nil {
+		return errors.NewInvalidInputf(ErrCodeDashboardInvalidInput, "%s.spec.links is required; send [] when there are no links", path)
+	}
+	return nil
 }

 // Link replicates dashboard.Link (Perses) so its zero-valued fields survive the
--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_signoz_plugins.go
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/perses_signoz_plugins.go
@@ -32,7 +32,53 @@ type DynamicVariableSpec struct {
 	// Name is the name of the attribute being fetched dynamically from the
 	// signal. This could be extended to a richer selector in the future.
 	Name   string                `json:"name" validate:"required" required:"true"`
-	Signal telemetrytypes.Signal `json:"signal"`
+	Signal DynamicVariableSignal `json:"signal" required:"true" nullable:"false"`
+}
+
+// DynamicVariableSignal is the telemetry signal a dynamic variable draws its
+// values from. Separate from telemetrytypes.Signal because it carries "all"
+// (values span every signal) rather than "" for an unpinned query signal.
+type DynamicVariableSignal struct{ valuer.String }
+
+var (
+	DynamicVariableSignalTraces  = DynamicVariableSignal{valuer.NewString("traces")}
+	DynamicVariableSignalLogs    = DynamicVariableSignal{valuer.NewString("logs")}
+	DynamicVariableSignalMetrics = DynamicVariableSignal{valuer.NewString("metrics")}
+	DynamicVariableSignalAll     = DynamicVariableSignal{valuer.NewString("all")} // default
+)
+
+func (DynamicVariableSignal) Enum() []any {
+	return []any{DynamicVariableSignalTraces, DynamicVariableSignalLogs, DynamicVariableSignalMetrics, DynamicVariableSignalAll}
+}
+
+func (s DynamicVariableSignal) ValueOrDefault() string {
+	if s.IsZero() {
+		return DynamicVariableSignalAll.StringValue()
+	}
+	return s.StringValue()
+}
+
+func (s DynamicVariableSignal) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	return json.Marshal(s.ValueOrDefault())
+}
+
+func (s *DynamicVariableSignal) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	var v string
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &v); err != nil {
+		return errors.WrapInvalidInputf(err, ErrCodeDashboardInvalidInput, "invalid signal: must be a string, one of `traces`, `logs`, `metrics`, or `all`")
+	}
+	if v == "" {
+		*s = DynamicVariableSignalAll
+		return nil
+	}
+	sig := DynamicVariableSignal{valuer.NewString(v)}
+	switch sig {
+	case DynamicVariableSignalTraces, DynamicVariableSignalLogs, DynamicVariableSignalMetrics, DynamicVariableSignalAll:
+		*s = sig
+		return nil
+	default:
+		return errors.NewInvalidInputf(ErrCodeDashboardInvalidInput, "invalid signal %q: must be `traces`, `logs`, `metrics`, or `all`", v)
+	}
 }

 type QueryVariableSpec struct {
--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/testdata/perses.json
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/testdata/perses.json
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
            }
        }
    ],
+    "links": [],
    "panels": {
        "24e2697b": {
            "kind": "Panel",
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@
        "ff2f72f1": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "fraction of calls",
                    "description": ""
@@ -253,6 +255,7 @@
        "011605e7": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "total resp size"
                },
@@ -304,6 +307,7 @@
        "e23516fc": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "num traces for service"
                },
@@ -359,6 +363,7 @@
        "130c8d6b": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "num logs for service"
                },
@@ -398,6 +403,7 @@
        "246f7c6d": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "num traces for service per resp code"
                },
@@ -451,6 +457,7 @@
        "21f7d4d0": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "average latency per service"
                },
@@ -493,6 +500,7 @@
        "ad5fd556": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "logs from service"
                },
@@ -557,6 +565,7 @@
        "f07b59ee": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "response size buckets"
                },
@@ -596,6 +605,7 @@
        "e1a41831": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "trace operator",
                    "description": ""
@@ -672,6 +682,7 @@
        "f0d70491": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "no results in this promql",
                    "description": ""
@@ -713,6 +724,7 @@
        "0e6eb4ca": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": "no results in this promql",
                    "description": ""
--- a/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/testdata/perses_with_sections.json
+++ b/pkg/types/dashboardtypes/testdata/perses_with_sections.json
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@
            }
        }
    },
+    "links": [],
    "panels": {
        "b424e23b": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": ""
                },
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@
        "251df4d5": {
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
+                "links": [],
                "display": {
                    "name": ""
                },
--- a/tests/integration/tests/dashboard/03_v2_dashboard.py
+++ b/tests/integration/tests/dashboard/03_v2_dashboard.py
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ def test_create_rejects_invalid_grid_layout(
            "kind": "Panel",
            "spec": {
                "display": {"name": name},
+                "links": [],
                "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TablePanel", "spec": {}},
                "queries": [
                    {
@@ -410,7 +411,7 @@ def test_update_missing_dashboard_returns_not_found(
        json={
            "schemaVersion": "v6",
            "name": "missing-dashboard",
-            "spec": {"display": {"name": "Missing Dashboard"}},
+            "spec": {"display": {"name": "Missing Dashboard"}, "links": []},
            "tags": [],
        },
        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
@@ -535,7 +536,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_lifecycle(  # pylint: disable=too-many-locals,too-many-sta
            json={
                "schemaVersion": "v6",
                "name": name,
-                "spec": {"display": {"name": display}},
+                "spec": {"display": {"name": display}, "links": []},
                "tags": tags,
            },
            headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
@@ -886,7 +887,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_lifecycle(  # pylint: disable=too-many-locals,too-many-sta
    update_body = {
        "schemaVersion": "v6",
        "name": "lc-alpha",
-        "spec": {"display": {"name": "Alpha Overview"}},
+        "spec": {"display": {"name": "Alpha Overview"}, "links": []},
        "tags": [
            {"key": "team", "value": "pulse"},
            {"key": "env", "value": "prod"},
@@ -930,7 +931,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_lifecycle(  # pylint: disable=too-many-locals,too-many-sta
    beta_body = {
        "schemaVersion": "v6",
        "name": "lc-beta",
-        "spec": {"display": {"name": "Beta Overview"}},
+        "spec": {"display": {"name": "Beta Overview"}, "links": []},
        "tags": [{"key": "team", "value": "pulse"}, {"key": "env", "value": "dev"}],
    }
    response = requests.put(
@@ -1033,7 +1034,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_pin_limit(
            json={
                "schemaVersion": "v6",
                "name": f"pl-{i}",
-                "spec": {"display": {"name": f"Pin Limit {i}"}},
+                "spec": {"display": {"name": f"Pin Limit {i}"}, "links": []},
                "tags": [],
            },
            headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
@@ -1131,7 +1132,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_like_escaping(
            json={
                "schemaVersion": "v6",
                "name": name,
-                "spec": {"display": {"name": display}},
+                "spec": {"display": {"name": display}, "links": []},
                "tags": [],
            },
            headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
@@ -1222,11 +1223,13 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_get_by_metric_name(
            "name": "by-metric-builder",
            "spec": {
                "display": {"name": "by-metric-builder"},
+                "links": [],
                "panels": {
                    "p-builder": {
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": "D1 builder target"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
@@ -1271,11 +1274,13 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_get_by_metric_name(
            "name": "by-metric-ch-promql",
            "spec": {
                "display": {"name": "by-metric-ch-promql"},
+                "links": [],
                "panels": {
                    "p-ch": {
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": "D2 clickhouse target"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
@@ -1297,6 +1302,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_get_by_metric_name(
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": "D2 promql target"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
@@ -1333,11 +1339,13 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_get_by_metric_name(
            "name": "by-metric-promql",
            "spec": {
                "display": {"name": "by-metric-promql"},
+                "links": [],
                "panels": {
                    "p-promql": {
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": "D3 promql target"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
@@ -1376,11 +1384,13 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_get_by_metric_name(
            "name": "by-metric-false-positive",
            "spec": {
                "display": {"name": "by-metric-false-positive"},
+                "links": [],
                "panels": {
                    "p-builder": {
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": f"{target_metric} builder"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
@@ -1409,6 +1419,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_get_by_metric_name(
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": f"{target_metric} clickhouse"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
@@ -1430,6 +1441,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_get_by_metric_name(
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": f"{target_metric} promql"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
@@ -1503,11 +1515,13 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_rejects_comma_separated_aggregation(
            "tags": [],
            "spec": {
                "display": {"name": "Aggregation"},
+                "links": [],
                "panels": {
                    "p-agg": {
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": "agg"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
@@ -1659,6 +1673,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_roundtrip_preserves_zero_values(
                    "kind": "Panel",
                    "spec": {
                        "display": {"name": "timeseries"},
+                        "links": [],
                        "plugin": {
                            "kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel",
                            "spec": {"thresholds": [{"value": 0, "color": "#c2780b"}]},
@@ -1681,6 +1696,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_roundtrip_preserves_zero_values(
                    "kind": "Panel",
                    "spec": {
                        "display": {"name": "promql"},
+                        "links": [],
                        "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                        "queries": [
                            {
@@ -1700,6 +1716,7 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_roundtrip_preserves_zero_values(
                    "kind": "Panel",
                    "spec": {
                        "display": {"name": "clickhouse"},
+                        "links": [],
                        "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {}},
                        "queries": [
                            {
@@ -1795,11 +1812,9 @@ def test_dashboard_v2_roundtrip_preserves_zero_values(
        for description, spec, key in absent_cases:
            assert key not in spec, description

-        # A panel with no links comes back with no links value (null or absent);
-        # either is fine for a typed client (an unset optional attribute stays
-        # unset), so this is not a drift. The explicit [] case above is what the
-        # fix guarantees round-trips.
-        assert panels["timeseries"]["spec"].get("links") is None, "unset panel links stays unset"
+        # links is a required, non-nullable field: an explicit [] round-trips as [],
+        # so a typed client always reads a concrete array (never null or absent).
+        assert panels["timeseries"]["spec"]["links"] == [], "panel links round-trip as []"
    finally:
        requests.delete(
            signoz.self.host_configs["8080"].get(f"{BASE_URL}/{dashboard_id}"),
--- a/tests/integration/tests/dashboard/05_v2_public_dashboard.py
+++ b/tests/integration/tests/dashboard/05_v2_public_dashboard.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ def test_public_dashboard_v2(
            "spec": {
                "display": {"name": "Sample Dashboard", "description": "Used for integration tests"},
                "duration": "1h",
+                "links": [],
                "variables": [
                    {
                        "kind": "ListVariable",
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ def test_public_dashboard_v2(
                        "kind": "Panel",
                        "spec": {
                            "display": {"name": "total"},
+                            "links": [],
                            "plugin": {"kind": "signoz/TimeSeriesPanel", "spec": {"visualization": {"fillSpans": True}}},
                            "queries": [
                                {
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
Naman Verma	ecc3ef5463	fix: allow all as value for signal	2026-07-22 02:02:46 +05:30
Naman Verma	eb59f57fc9	fix: validate links on read from db as well	2026-07-22 01:38:03 +05:30
Ashwin Bhatkal	1581bfd5f3	refactor(dashboards-v2): make dynamic-variable signal a required field Addresses review on the empty-signal change. The dynamic-variable signal already always serializes ('' = all telemetry, no omitempty), so mark it required + non-nullable in the contract (regenerated OpenAPI + client). The read adapter now uses plugin.spec.signal directly instead of the DYNAMIC_SIGNALS.includes(...) → DYNAMIC_SIGNAL_ALL fallback. Scoped to the dynamic-variable signal only; the query signal (QueryBuilderQuery.Signal) is unchanged.	2026-07-21 12:46:49 +05:30
Ashwin Bhatkal	603bf45b3c	fix(dashboards-v2): make panel/dashboard links required and non-nullable Beta hasn't shipped, so tighten the contract instead of leaving links nullable. PanelSpec.Links and DashboardSpec.Links are now required and non-nullable, and create/update/patch reject a missing links value (spec- or panel-level) rather than silently defaulting it, so a typed client's value round-trips faithfully. Enforced at the request boundary (Postable/UpdatableDashboardV2.Validate), not the shared spec Validate, so reads and clones of already-stored specs are unaffected. Regenerated the OpenAPI spec + frontend client (links is now a non-optional Link[]), set links: [] at the panel/dashboard builders, dropped the now-dead null guards, and updated the marshal round-trip + v2 integration tests.	2026-07-21 10:43:54 +05:30
Ashwin Bhatkal	bd2ccb538d	fix(dashboard-v2): use empty-signal enum value for "all telemetry" The wire now carries an empty signal ('') to mean "any", so drop the UI-only 'all' sentinel. TelemetrySignal is the full generated enum again (no narrowing union), '' round-trips as the "all telemetry" value instead of being persisted as an omitted/undefined signal, and signalForApi is now just the field-keys/values transport mapper ('' -> omitted, since that endpoint only accepts a concrete signal).	2026-07-20 23:20:16 +05:30